This article offers solutions to the significant mental health inequities that exist in Tribal nations.
- According to The National Tribal Behavioral Health Agenda (2016), mental and behavioral health issues necessitate a “communitywide response” with tribal ownership being vital.
- Tribal empowerment, mobilization, and capacity building underlie tribal sovereignty and represent methods that will provide an appropriate response to the needs of communities (Chino & DeBruyn, 2006).
- The combination of a growing workforce of Native mental health professionals (e.g., psychologists) alongside indigenous community mental health workers has the ability to widen scope, increase local and cultural assets, improve a continuum of care, and work to reduce disparities.
- By creating a local workforce, indigenous community mental health workers also represent self-determination and sovereignty over economy and health care.
