Counseling Commons^™

Treatment Issues For Native Americans: An Overview Of Individual, Family, And Group Strategies, Cindy L. Juntunen, Paula M. Morin

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Faculty Publications

The need for improved counseling and mental health services for Native Americans is readily apparent. Several significant mental health concerns exist within the Native American population, including high rates of depression, suicide, substance use, and post-traumatic stress syndrome (Indian Health Services, 2001). In fact, the Indian Health Services (IHS) reports that mental health concerns account for more than one third of the demand for services from IHS facilities. However, there is a serious lack of resources for meeting these needs. Furthermore, an astounding lack of attention is paid to Native American issues in the professional counseling and psychological literature, which …