APA Services submitted testimony (PDF, 124KB)opens in new window to the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies advocating for increased funding to address the health needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). The testimony highlighted the need for increased funding within the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the need to expand access to essential mental and behavioral health services to AI/AN communities, pointing out that these communities often lack access to adequate health care, including behavioral health. Also noted was the fact that suicide rates are higher for this population compared to all racial and ethnic groups.
“Support for behavioral health services is a crucial investment in population health, wellness, and resilience. We must reverse the accumulation of decades of neglect, stigma, and unequal treatment of behavioral healthcare that has led our nation into a health crisis, especially for communities such as Native American communities,” said APA’s Chief Advocacy Officer Katherine McGuire, MSc. “To this end, federal investments in behavioral health services are critical to developing evidence-based practices in behavioral health, informing policy, and contributing to the development of effective behavioral health interventions.”
The association also recommended increased funding for alcohol and substance use programs within IHS to address high rates of alcohol and substance use for this population. The testimony emphasized that increased funding for IHS is necessary because the agency is uniquely positioned to ensure culturally sensitive treatment plans are implemented for AI/AN communities.
Finally, APA services recommended an increase in funding for the Indian Health Professions Account and emphasized the importance of developing psychologists who are aware of the cultural sensitivities of this community and can address the community’s unique needs. This account includes the American Indians Into Psychology Program (INPSYC), which aims to increase the number of AI/AN with doctoral degrees in psychology and increase the cross-cultural understanding of AI/AN psychology.
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