In the US, 5.2 million Americans identify as American Indian or Alaska Native (2010 decennial census) which equates to 1.7% of the population. However, compared to all other groups, there are alarming health disparities among Native Americans in terms of life expectancy as well as death from chronic illness. Even more troubling: during 2019, 18.7% of Native adults experienced mental illness and the suicide rate among American Indians and Alaska Native youth, is 2.5 times higher than the rest of the country. Alcohol dependency rates are three times higher than the national average, and almost twenty percent of deaths are related to alcohol. Many suggest the traumatic historic context has caused the alarming rates of mental health illness, allowing the tragic and disgraceful history to cause intergenerational trauma in these communities. Join us for a conversation around mental health and indigenous populations as we bring much needed visibility to this epidemic.
Guests include:
Mehul Mankad, MD – CMO, Alliance Health/ 2017 President of NCPA
Sid Hosseini, DO, PhD – CMO Eastpoint LME/MCO
Kathleen Dunlap, MD – Psychiatrist in Cherokee
Richard Bunio, MD – Executive Medical Director at CIHA; President WCMS
Freida Saylor – Clinical Director of Behavioral Health Services at Cherokee Indian Hospital