A Holistic Systemic Approach for Native American Mental Health Advocacy: Giving Voice, Raising Awareness, Addressing the Stigma
~with Kathleen Little Leaf
About the Training…
A Holistic Systemic Approach for Native American Mental Health Advocacy: Giving Voice, Raising Awareness, Addressing the Stigma
~With Kathleen Little Leaf
Advocacy is defined as the public support and recommendations of causes or policies. One of the most important roles as a Mental Health provider is to advocate on behalf of their clients. To advocate for people in crisis effectively, individual biases must be identified and reconciled. This class provides recommendations on how to identify and come to terms with internal biases, including:
- Reflection of one’s life history and lived experience
- Defining one’s purpose
- Upholding values
This training covers mental health advocacy for Native Americans needing help navigating “the system,” while upholding their human rights in a social, economic, or political system.
Stigma of mental illness is a significant barrier to getting individuals the mental health help they need. Identification and strategies for dissuading Stigma in Indian Country are provided. Advocating against discrimination within the mental health field is also addressed.
Systems theory offers a holistic (well-rounded) understanding of an individual’s behavior, relationship to family and community, and the broader impacts of mainstream society and government. This systemic approach enables the advocate to identify the type of advocacy needed—by either giving voice, raising awareness, or addressing the stigma of mental health disorders.
To be an advocate is to be courageous and vulnerable, to offer hope and a sense of purpose, and to promote positive mental health. ~
To Open Course Content, click on Introduction (below). You should see a video. Play the video and then complete the Evaluation questions. When finished, you can download your Certificate of Completion. If problems, Email Vanessa@pnwsocialscientists.com
