title: Mental disabilities in an Aboriginal context.
abstract: Aboriginal (meaning original peoples) North American mental health is acknowledged to be in a more precarious state than that of the dominant cultures. Disability arises from the conditions of poverty, homelessness, and lack of resources that are compounded for North American aboriginal people by the historical trauma of conquest, being placed on reservations, residential schools, and continued discrimination. We present culturally sensitive and syntonic intervention programs that can reduce the impact of Aboriginal mental disabilities and discuss the commonality among these programs of celebrating culture, language, and tradition.
authors.affiliation: a Coyote Institute , Orono , Maine , USA.|b Acadia Hospital , Bangor , Maine , USA.|c Department of Family Medicine , University of New England , Biddeford , Maine , USA.
authors.forename: Lewis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mehl-Madrona
authors.affiliation: a Coyote Institute , Orono , Maine , USA.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mainguy
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D054521:Cultural Competency; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D007802:Language; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States
keywords: attitudes; ethnic minorities; health care; homelessness; identity and belonging; inclusion; medical model; mental health; serious mental illness; substance abuse; trauma