Prevention & Intervention

Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans’ lives and to celebrate recovery from mental illness. For more than 20 years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has recognized Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) every May to increase awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall health and well-being and provide resources and information to support individuals and communities who may need mental health support.

Mental Health Awareness Information:

Samish Prevention and Intervention

In Prevention and Intervention, we believe that the practice of connecting individuals to their culture, language and traditions fosters a greater sense of community which in turn promotes wellness and reduces distress. We plan to build upon our current service strengths to reduce gaps in mental health needs, substance abuse needs and provide holistic, culturally appropriate wraparound services for Samish Citizens and their families. We will work to align our vision with the SAMHSA National Tribal Behavioral Health Agenda (TBHA) which “Evaluates the importance of tribal identities, culture, spiritual beliefs, and practices for improving overall wellbeing”.

Mission:

Implementing substance abuse prevention, suicide prevention, mental health promotion, cultural healing revitalization, outreach, and holistic healing within the community which will allow us to come together and strengthen our identity as Coast Salish people. Developing capacity within the Samish Tribe to address the complex factors associated with a comprehensive opioid and stimulant use response by participating in, developing, expanding, and implementing activities, treatments, and prevention and intervention education within the 10 service counties of the Samish Indian Nation. 

Program Eligibility

Samish Citizens who reside in the 10-county service area (Skagit, Island, San Juan, Whatcom, Snohomish, King, Clallam, Jefferson, Pierce and Kitsap).

Mental Health Resources

Center for Traditional Medicine

Promotes traditional approaches and indigenous knowledge to address public health issues. It also offers several resources for mental health.

Healthy Aboriginal Network

Promotes wellness and literacy among indigenous youth through comic books and animated short films on health and social issues.

National Center for American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research at the Colorado School of Public Health

Specializes in research on mental health issues among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations.

Indigenous Story Studio

Creates illustrations, posters, videos, and comic books on health and social issues for youth (Canada- based)

• Strength of the Sash and Tomorrow’s Hope: Suicide Prevention
• Making it Right: Community Justice, Policing
• Just a Story: Mental Health Stigma

One Sky Center

The American Indian/Alaska Native National Resource Center for Health, Education, and Research; mission is to improve prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use problems and services among Native people.

• A Guide to Suicide Prevention
• Presentations and Publications: number of downloadable resources by topic (addiction treatment, adolescents, crisis care & disaster management, disparity of health services, mental health management, and more)

WeRNative

A comprehensive health resource for Native youth by Native youth, promoting holistic health and positive growth in local communities and nation at large

• My Culture – Wellness and Healing, Identity
• My Life – My Mind – Mental Health Difficulties, Improve Your Mood, Getting Help, and more (including specific MH issues)
• My Relationships – Unhealthy Relationships, Communicating, LGBT – Two Spirit
• Ask Auntie: similar to advice column – type in your question and it will pull up similar ones; if none answer what you’re asking, Auntie Amanda will write up an answer and notify you when it is posted.

StrongHearts Native Helpline

StrongHearts Native Helpline (1-844-762-8483) is a 24/7 confidential and anonymous culturally-appropriate domestic and sexual violence helpline for Native Americans.

You may contact us at any time, we are here to assist you any way we can.