Recounting coup as the recirculation of Indigenous vitality: A narrative alternative to historical trauma

2021 ◽  
pp. 136346152110549
Author(s):  
Joseph P. Gone
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
American Indian ◽  
American Indians ◽  
Historical Trauma ◽  
Psychological Trauma ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Trauma Narrative ◽  
War Narratives ◽  
Tribal Communities ◽  
The Impact

Contemporary American Indians suffer from disproportionately high degrees of psychiatric distress. Mental health researchers and professionals, as well as American Indian community members, have consistently associated these disproportionate rates of distress with Indigenous historical experiences of European and Euro-American colonization. This emphasis on the impact of colonization and associated historical consciousness within tribal communities has occasioned increasingly widespread professional consideration of historical trauma among Indigenous peoples. In contrast to personal experiences of a traumatic nature, the discourse of Indigenous historical trauma (IHT) weds the concepts of “historical oppression” and “psychological trauma” to explain community-wide risk for adverse mental health outcomes originating from the depredations of past colonial subjugation through intergenerational transmission of vulnerability and risk. Long before the emergence of accounts of IHT, however, many American Indian communities prized a markedly different form of narrative: the coup tale. By way of illustration, I explore various historical functions of this speech genre by focusing on Aaniiih-Gros Ventre war narratives, including their role in conveying vitality or life. By virtue of their recognition and celebration of agency, mastery, and vitality, Aaniiih war stories functioned as the discursive antithesis of IHT. Through comparative consideration of the coup tale and the trauma narrative, I propose an alternative framework for cultivating Indigenous community “survivance” rather than vulnerability based on these divergent discursive practices.

scholarly journals In their own words: Understanding Australians’ priority concerns regarding mental health in the context of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlee Bower ◽  
Amarina Donohoe-Bales ◽  
Scarlett Smout ◽  
Andre Quan Ho Nguyen ◽  
Julia Boyle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Financial Stability ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Good Mental Health ◽  
Australian Community ◽  
Seeking Help ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the recent bushfires and flash floods, have resulted in significant and unprecedented mental health impacts in Australia. Despite the known impacts, there is a paucity of research directly asking Australian community members about their mental health experiences and what they perceive to be the most important mental health issues in the context of the pandemic. This study utilises qualitative data from Alone Together, a longitudinal mixed-methods study investigating the effects of COVID-19 on mental health in an Australian community sample (N = 2,056). Of the 1,350 participants who completed the first follow-up survey, a total of 1,037 participants, who ranged in sex (69.9% female), age (M = 40-49 years), state/territory of residence, and socioeconomic status, shared responses to two open-ended questions regarding the most important issues for mental health in Australia and the impact of COVID-19 on their individual mental health. Responses were analysed using thematic analysis. Participants described COVID-19 as primarily impacting their mental health through the disruption it posed to their social world and financial stability. A key concern for participants who reported having poor mental health was the existence of multiple competing barriers to accessing good mental health care. According to participant responses, the pandemic had pressurized an already over-burdened mental health service system, leaving many without timely, appropriate support. Further absent or stigmatising rhetoric around mental health, at both a political and community level, also prevented participants from seeking help. Insights gained from the present research provide opportunities for policymakers and health practitioners to draw on the expertise of Australians’ lived experience and address priority issues through targeted policy planning. This could ultimately support a more responsive, integrated and effective mental health system, during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Developing trauma resilient communities through community capacity-building

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd P. Gilmer ◽  
Kimberly Center ◽  
Danielle Casteel ◽  
Kyle Choi ◽  
Debbie Innes-Gomberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Stress Tolerance ◽  
Community Capacity ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Capacity Building ◽  
Community Connectedness ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Trauma Informed ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Trauma is a significant public health issue, negatively impacting a range of health outcomes. Providers and administrators in public mental health systems recognize the widespread experience of trauma, as well as their limited ability to address trauma within their communities. In response, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health funded nine regionally based community partnerships to build capacity to address trauma. We describe partnership and community capacity-building efforts and examine community impact, defined as successful linkages to resources and changes in stress tolerance capacities among community members. Methods We conceptualized community capacity-building as dissemination of trauma-informed education and training, community outreach and engagement, and linkage of community members to resources. We measured trauma-informed trainings among partnership members (N = 332) using the Trauma-Informed Organizational Toolkit. Outreach, engagement and linkages were documented using Event and Linkage Trackers. We examined changes in the type of successful linkage after the issuance of statewide mandatory restrictions in response to COVID-19. We examined changes in stress tolerance capacities among community members (N = 699) who were engaged in ongoing partnership activities using the 10-item Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale; the 28-item Coping Orientation to Problems; and the pictorial Inclusion of Community in Self Scale. Results Training and education opportunities were widespread: 66% of members reported opportunities for training in 13 or more trauma-informed practices. Partnerships conducted over 7800 community capacity-building events with over 250,000 attendees. Nearly 14,000 successful linkages were made for a wide range of resources, with consistent linkage success prior to (85%) and during (87%) the pandemic. In response to COVID-19, linkage type significantly shifted from basic services and health care to food distribution (p < .01). Small but significant improvements occurred in coping through emotional and instrumental support; and sense of community connectedness (p < .05 each). Conclusions Community-based partnerships demonstrated effective capacity-building strategies. Despite the pandemic, community members did not report reduced stress tolerance, instead demonstrating gains in external help-seeking (use of emotional and instrumental supports) and perception of community connectedness. Future work will use qualitative methods to examine the impact of community capacity-building and the sustainability of this approach for addressing the impact of trauma within communities.

Reproductive and Mental Health during Natural Disaster

2015 ◽  
pp. 265-291
Author(s):  
Jasim Anwar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Psychological Trauma ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Psychological Consequences ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
The Impact

With the ever-increasing number of natural disasters, it is important to understand the impact on the health and wellbeing of survivors, especially women. The reproductive and mental health of women contributes significantly to their overall wellbeing. The Chapter gives an overview of natural disasters with an emphasis on consequences of earthquakes of health and wellbeing of the survivors. It includes a critical review of published studies on psychological trauma and reproductive health following earthquake disasters. Among the psychological consequences of earthquakes, this chapter describes post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. The last section of this chapter reviewed reproductive health in relation to the mental health consequences following natural disasters.

Historical Trauma, Ethnic Experience, and Mental Health in a Sample of Urban American Indians

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-156
Author(s):  
Nicholas Guenzel ◽  
Leeza Struwe
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
American Indians ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Historical Trauma ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Effective Care ◽  
Mainstream Society

BACKGROUND: Historical trauma (HT) among American Indians (AIs) has been linked with poor mental health but has been inadequately studied among urban populations. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe historical trauma, historical loss associated thoughts, ethnic experience, and psychological symptoms among a population of urban AIs. METHOD: This was a mixed methods study. In addition to focus groups, survey participants were administered the Historical Losses Scale, the Historical Losses Associated Symptoms Scale, the Scale of Ethnic Experience, and the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment Adult Self-Report. Rates of psychological symptoms were compared with matched controls from a normative data set. RESULTS: Participants reported a strong sense of ethnic identity, a moderate desire to associate with other AIs, moderate comfort within mainstream society, and moderately high perceived discrimination. The most common HT themes were loss of culture, respect by children of traditional ways, and language. Compared with controls, participants had higher rates of aggressive behavior, substance use, thought problems, and obsessive symptoms, but some of these issues are likely explained by cultural factors. A greater number of participants met the clinical threshold for multiple problems compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: This sample of AIs reported frequent experiences of discrimination. HT is a significant factor in the lives of many urban AIs who also have significantly higher rates of a number of mental health problems. Providers must be aware of these issues to provide the most effective care to AIs.

Real Indians, Last Indians: Art, Anthropology, and the Museumization of Indigenous Lives

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 47-48
Author(s):  
Kerry Hawk Lessard ◽  
Gregg Deal
Keyword(s):  
American Indian ◽  
American Indians ◽  
Performance Art ◽  
Historical Trauma

Historical trauma is a term used to reflect the intergenerational losses experienced by American Indians and whose effects serve to depreciate the health, wellness, and resilience of a contemporary people. One of the lesser explored of these losses is that of identity, specifically the ways in which it is constructed and communicated. Using an image from the performance art piece The Last American Indian on Earth, authors consider the role of anthropology in creating a narrative of indigenous lives that while often at odds with a people's understanding of themselves, is privileged as being far more authoritative. Exploring this contested imagery, authors engage a decolonized viewing practice to deconstruct and critique the problematic nature of museumization and its impacts on Indians and non-Indians alike.

scholarly journals Indigenous Trauma Intervention Research in Canada: A Narrative Literature Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Sarah Panofsky ◽  
Marla J. Buchanan ◽  
Roger John ◽  
Alanaise Goodwill
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Historical Trauma ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Psychological Trauma ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
History Of ◽  
Narrative Literature Review ◽  
Indigenous Mental Health

Contemporary Indigenous mental health research is beginning to address colonization, contextualizing Indigenous health within a history of colonial relationships and inadequate mental health responses. In practice, however, dominant counselling models for mental health in Canada have neglected Indigenous perspectives and there is a paucity of research regarding interventions that address psychological trauma with Indigenous populations. We identified 11 Canadian studies that employed culturally appropriate trauma interventions within Indigenous communities. We discuss the findings in relation to the study participants, outcomes reported, and research design. Recommendations are provided to address the need for evidence-based trauma interventions that have efficacy for Indigenous people in Canada to address Indigenous historical trauma.

scholarly journals The impact of potentially traumatic events on the mental health of males who have served in the military: Findings from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing

2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (7) ◽  
pp. 693-702
Author(s):  
Darryl Wade ◽  
Louise Mewton ◽  
Tracey Varker ◽  
Andrea Phelps ◽  
David Forbes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Unexpected Events ◽  
Potentially Traumatic Events ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Australian Defence Force ◽  
The Impact

Objective: The study investigated the impact of potentially traumatic events on mental health outcomes among males who had ever served in the Australian Defence Force. Method: Data from a nationally representative household survey of Australian residents, the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, were used for this study. Results: Compared with community members, Australian Defence Force males were significantly more likely to have experienced not only deployment and other war-like events but also accidents or other unexpected events, and trauma to someone close. For non-deployed males, Australian Defence Force members were at increased risk of accidents or other unexpected events compared to community members. After controlling for the effect of potentially traumatic events that were more prevalent among all Australian Defence Force members, the increased risk of mental disorders among Australian Defence Force members was no longer evident. For non-deployed males, Australian Defence Force and community members were at comparable risk of poor mental health outcomes. A significant minority of Australian Defence Force members had onset of a mental disorder prior to their first deployment. Conclusions: Deployment and other potentially traumatic events among Australian Defence Force members can help to explain their increased vulnerability to mental disorders compared with community members. Providers should routinely enquire about a range of potentially traumatic events among serving and ex-serving military personnel.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document