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INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE
Mental Health/Alcohol and Substance Abuse Programs
The American Psychological Association (APA) recommends that Congress provide
an additional $30 million to the Indian Health Service for mental health and
alcohol and substance abuse programs.
BACKGROUND
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The President's FY 2006 proposed budget for the Indian Health Service
is $3.047 billion. The proposed budget requests $59.2 million for mental health
programs, an increase of $4.2 million above FY 2005, and $145.3 million for
alcohol and substance abuse programs, an increase of $6.2 million above FY 2005.
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Poverty is a significant contributing factor toward mental and
substance abuse disorders. The per capita annual income in the Navajo Nation is
$4,106, and for every 100 children entering elementary school, only seven will
go on to college. The poverty rate for American Indians and Alaska Natives
(AI/AN) in 2001was 24.5 percent, as compared to 7.8 percent for non-Hispanic
whites. The median household income estimate for American Indians and Alaska
Natives was $32,116, as compared to $46,305 for non-Hispanic whites. These
factors have contributed to AI/AN having higher mortality rates than whites at
each stage of the life span.
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According to the 2002 Institute of Medicine Report, Reducing Suicide,
"Suicide represents a major national and international public health
problem." Inadequate mental health and substance abuse services contribute
to a suicide rate for AI/AN that is about 1.7 times the rate for all races in
the U.S, and the suicide rate for males 15 to 34 years of age is over two times
the national rate. The death rate attributed to alcohol for AI/AN is 45.5 per
100,000, as compared to 6.7 per 100,000 for all races. Studies have shown that
70 percent of all suicidal acts (completions and attempts) in AI/AN country
involved alcohol. In addition, 22 percent of AI/AN experience posttraumatic
stress disorder, as compared to 8 percent of the general population.
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Increasing the number of psychologists and other qualified mental
health professionals will provide significant resources to AI/AN communities
struggling with suicide, child abuse, and domestic violence.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The American Psychological Association strongly urges Congress to:
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Provide an additional $30 million for mental health and alcohol and
substance abuse programs.
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Provide funds for the establishment of a National Suicide Prevention
Center in American Indian country.
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Increase the number of psychologists and other qualified mental health
professionals in the Indian Health Service.
For more information, please contact Denis Nissim-Sabat, Ph.D., in APA's
Public Policy Office at (202) 336-6104.
April, 2005
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