American Indian and Alaska Native Children and Mental Health: Development, Context, Prevention, and Treatment

· · ·
· Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Ebook
424
Pages

About this ebook

This unique book examines the physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors that support or undermine healthy development in American Indian children, including economics, biology, and public policies.

The reasons for mental health issues among American Indian and Alaska Native children have not been well understood by investigators outside of tribal communities. Developing appropriate methodological approaches and evidence-based programs for helping these youths is an urgent priority in developmental science. This work must be done in ways that are cognizant of how the negative consequences of colonization contribute to American Indian and Alaska Native tribal members' underutilization of mental health services, higher therapy dropout rates, and poor response to culturally insensitive treatment programs.

This book examines the forces affecting psychological development and mental health in American Indian children today. Experts from leading universities discuss factors such as family conditions, economic status, and academic achievement, as well as political, social, national, and global influences, including racism. Specific attention is paid to topics such as the role of community in youth mental health issues, depression in American Indian parents, substance abuse and alcohol dependency, and the unique socioeconomic characteristics of this ethnic group.

About the author

Michelle C. Sarche is assistant professor at the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado, Denver, CO; a clinical psychologist; and a tribal member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe.

Paul Spicer is professor of anthropology and faculty at the Center for Applied Social Research at The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK; member of the board of ZERO TO THREE, a nonprofit organization dedicated to infants and toddlers; and codirector of the American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Research Center.

Patricia Farrell is assistant provost of University-Community Partnerships in the Office of University Outreach and Engagement at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; and is an enrolled member of Taos Pueblo.

Hiram E. Fitzgerald is series editor for the Praeger series, Child Psychology and Mental Health. He is associate provost for University Outreach and Engagement and University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; and adjunct professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.

Rate this ebook

Tell us what you think.

Reading information

Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.