Mobilizing Partnerships to Promote Wellness
Behavioral health care providers and others from Indian Country gathered on June 25–28, 2012, in Bloomington, Minnesota, to improve behavioral health promotion efforts by mobilizing and leveraging federal-Tribal partnerships that promote the wellness of American Indians and Alaska Natives. The 10th annual IHS National Behavioral Health Conference drew more than 650 participants, who left the conference with a renewed spirit of cooperation, collaboration, and innovation.
Highlights
- The Honorable Jefferson Keel, president of the National Congress of American Indians, delivered the keynote address.
- Dr. Dorothy Edwards, executive director of Green Dot, Etc., delivered a presentation on violence prevention that received a standing ovation.
- Plenary sessions were held on a music-oriented program at a youth regional treatment center, prescription drug abuse, and Alaska Native youth suicide prevention.
- Six behavioral health achievement awards were presented for overall achievement in behavioral health and for outstanding community mobilization efforts in suicide prevention, substance abuse prevention, domestic violence prevention, sexual assault prevention, and youth leadership.
- Training sessions provided intensive skill building on prescription drug abuse, self-injury, suicide intervention, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other topics to a total of 592 participants. The most popular training, An Example of Blending Traditional and Spiritual With Evidence-Based Practice (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), attracted 116 participants.
- Forty-nine workshops organized into 14 subject areas, or “tracks,” focused on emergent topics in behavioral health and offered continuing education credits to health care providers.
- Annual meetings for the Methamphetamine and Suicide Prevention Initiative (MSPI) and the Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative (DVPI) were held to trade innovative strategies and obtain technical assistance. Some workshops focused on promising practices and success stories from MSPI and DVPI grantees.
- About 100 people participated in the second annual Walk for Wellness.
- A diverse array of exhibitor booths provided an abundance of information and resources on behavioral health-related topics. MSPI showcased media campaign materials.
The 2012 IHS National Behavioral Health Conference attracted psychiatrists, physicians, clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, mental health counselors, substance abuse counselors, nurses, and social workers. Leaders and representatives from Tribal Governments, Nations, organizations, programs, and communities also attended, as well as school personnel, first responders, and community leaders.
