Native Americans Face Challenges With Suicide
Transcript
Coloradas Mangas is a high school student from the Mescalero Apache Reservation in New Mexico. He testified at a congressional hearing on Capitol Hill that he had lost several friends to suicide.
MANGAS: “When I look at the resources that our neighborhood have, I can’t help but notice how limited our IHS hospital is when it comes to basic care, and more importantly mental health services.” (:10)
Randy Grinnell from the Department of Health and Human Services says too often I-H-S can’t meet the needs. Some Native American areas have suicide rates 13 times higher than the US national average.
GRINNEL: “Indian country has communities where suicide can take on a contagious form often referred to as suicide clusters.” (:07)
Several others who testified called on Congress to increase funding for staff and resources. Hunter Genie is a behavioral health administrator for the Saginaw Chippewa tribe in Michigan.
GENIA: “During the 2008 and 2009 fiscal years we have had an average number of up to sixty community members waiting to access our behavior health services to an average of up to three months before they could even see a councilor or clinician.” (:10)
Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota chairs the Senate Indian Affairs committee.
DORGAN: “We’re trying to do everything we can to recognize it, put a spotlight on it, and understand how to address it, in order to save the lives of some particularly young people who think things are helpless and hopeless. (:12)
The new health care reform law that just passed permanently renews the Indian Health Care Improvement Act which will authorize youth suicide prevention efforts.
High school student Coloradas Mangas traveled from New Mexico to Washington to beg Congress for more help to combat youth suicide in tribal communities. Mangas said too many of his friends have committed suicide.
Mangas, who lives on the Mescalero Apace Reservation, said, “When I look at the resources that our neighborhood have, I can’t help but notice how limited our IHS (Indian Health Service) hospital is when it comes to basic care, and more importantly, mental health services.”
Several mental health advocates who testified at the congressional hearing on Capitol Hill Thursday called on lawmakers to increase funding for staff and resources.
“During the 2008 and 2009 fiscal years we have had an average number of up to 60 community members waiting to access our behavior health services to an average of up to three months before they could even see a councilor or clinician,” said Hunter Genie, a behavioral health administrator for the Saginaw Chippewa tribe in Michigan.
In most Native American communities, youth suicide rates are three times higher than the U.S. national average. Randy Grinnell, the Indian Heath Service Deputy Director, said it’s essential to detect early warning signs and treat mental illness to prevent suicides.
“Some providers are so overwhelmed by the demand for services, particularly during suicide outbreaks that even well-seasoned providers become at risk for burn out,” Grinnell said.
Panelists didn’t have a question and answer period because Members of Congress had to cut the hearing short for a floor vote. Sen. Bryon Dorgan, D-N.D., did deliver remarks as chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
“We’re trying to do everything we can to recognize it, put a spotlight on it, and understand how to address it,” Dorgan said.
President Obama recently renewed the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. It authorizes a comprehensive Indian youth suicide prevention effort.
Michael T. Ruhl contributed to this report.
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