Blog #1 Health Problem

Growing up in a small town known as Peach Springs, AZ, with a population of less than 2,000. A Native American reservation surrounded by miles of land and a backyard view of the West Grand Canyon. A small town with one grocery store, a gas station, a hotel, a fire station, a police station, and a healthcare clinic. Scattered houses, yards consumed by overgrown weeds, abandoned vehicles, and trash define a town that appears to be deserted. The inhabitants of this town suffer a long history of historical and generational trauma, challenged by barriers such as poverty, high rates of substance abuse, domestic violence, suicide, housing instability, access to care, and overall lack of infrastructure. Unfortunately, I’ve seen one too many funeral announcement flyers of people who have passed, and several of my family’s childhood friends who have tragically passed from substance abuse and/or suicide. Generational trauma is passed down like a disease, resistant to the strongest remedies. I experienced this loss personally with the death of my only brother, first to alcoholism, then to suicide. He was an outgoing, compassionate man with his entire life ahead of him. He sought help more than once, first within our community, where the only substance use program closed, and later at a sober living home in Phoenix, AZ, where the owner exploited residents, eventually forcing them onto the streets. The health system failed not only my brother but continues to fail thousands of people nationwide, greatly impacting underserved populations due to the underfunding of mental health services. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] (2022), Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals are disproportionately impacted by suicide. Statistical evidence indicates that AI/AN had the highest drug-related deaths between 2013-2017, while alcohol related deaths remain another leading concern (Soto et al., 2022). The topic of this blog will focus on addressing underfunded mental health services through culturally centered prevention efforts to reduce the co-occurrence of substance abuse and suicide rates among American Indian/ Alaskan Native (AI/AN) populations. Suicide and substance use rates among the AI/AN populations are disproportionately high due to underfunded mental health services, historical trauma, cultural disconnect, and social determinants of health (SDOH). Improving mental health access for underserved populations through increased funding and integration of culturally centered prevention programs while addressing the barrier of SDOH. As a health care issue that directly affects me, I believe it is important to use my platform as an advanced practice nurse to advocate for one of many clinical health care issues. Nurses, as the largest healthcare workforce, have a significant influence on patient safety and health, and can profoundly improve the quality of healthcare and costs. The ethical and equity impacts can shape essential factors such as the advancement of healthcare, the quality of outcomes, access to healthcare, patient safety, fair access to treatment, sustainability, and the accountability of professional standards.

References:

Soto, C., West, A. E., Ramos, G. G., & Unger, J. B. (2022). Substance and behavioral addictions among American Indian and Alaska Native populations. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(5), 2974. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052974

Stone, D., Trinh, E., Zhou, H., Welder, L., End of Horn, P., Fowler, K., & Ivey-Stephenson, A. (2022). Suicides Among American Indian or Alaska Native Persons- National Violent Death Reporting System, United States, 2015-2020. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17(37), 1161-1168. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9484806/pdf/mm7137a1.pdf