Lewis, M. E., Hartwell, E. E., & Myhra, L. L. (2018). Decolonizing mental health services for indigenous clients: a training program for mental health professionals. American Journal of Community Psychology, 62(3-4), 330-339.

Abstract

Culturally appropriate mental health services are essential for Indigenous people who suffer the greatest mental health disparities of any ethnic group in the U.S. However, few mental health professionals receive training to work with this population. To fill this gap, a 90-minute training was created to increase knowledge of and empathy for Indigenous people and culture and therefore, improve mental health services for Indigenous patients. This training is grounded in cultural competency, cultural humility, and decolonialism. The training is presented here for mental health professionals, agencies, and administrators to use as a guide. The training aims to increase knowledge, awareness, and skills and has been implemented in a variety of settings receiving positive feedback from participants and administrators.