Mental Health and Indigenous People

Indigenous communities are in many parts of the world, inhabit native lands, and, for millennia, practice their traditions. Despite a wide dispersion around the globe, their cultural assets and liabilities in mental health are less well understood for informing health support programs. In fact, Indigenous populations may prefer complementary or alternative mental health care as compared to modern medicine, although increasingly, Indigenous populations participate in modern mental health services with acculturation and modernity. This chapter will define Indigenous communities and trace the history of research and practice in their mental health, referencing Indigenous communities of Africa, Australasia, North America, and Southeast Asia. It follows this up by discussing the main themes in sustaining the mental health of Indigenous communities by applying human rights-based approaches and recognizing their capabilities over millennia. Next, it considers the cultural, professional, and legal issues that influence mental health and well-being among Indigenous communities. Finally, it reviews the critical research and practice issues to inform mental health care of Indigenous communities in a globalizing world.