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National reports of diabetes and mental health for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) are high, yet mental health professional access is low. We used multiple logistic regression to analyze data from the 2014 NHPI National Health Interview Survey. We evaluated the association between diabetes and serious psychological distress, and the interaction effect of mental health professional utilization among 2,587 adults. Self-reported diabetes was positively associated with serious psychological distress, but mental health professional utilization did not affect this association. Stigma and measurement gaps may influence self-report and measurement of mental health symptomatology, suggesting the need for culturally grounded approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationship to place is integral to Indigenous health. A qualitative, secondary phenomenological analysis of in-depth interviews with four non-Choctaw Indigenous women participating in an outdoor, experiential tribally specific Choctaw health leadership study uncovered culturally grounded narratives using thematic analysis as an analytic approach. Results revealed that physically being in historical trauma sites of other Indigenous groups involved a multi-faceted process that facilitated embodied stress by connecting participants with their own historical and contemporary traumas. Participants also experienced embodied resilience through connectedness to place and collective resistance. Implications point to the role of place in developing collective resistance and resilience through culturally and methodologically innovative approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings from an alcohol and other drug use (AOD) and HIV risk needs assessment of 20 "Mexican American Indian" adults in two urban areas of the United States who currently or previously participated in Danza Mexica an Indigenous cultural/ceremonial dance form. Findings describe community perceptions of AOD and HIV knowledge, stigma, and risk. The majority of participants identified AOD and more than half perceived HIV to be significant health concerns. Importantly, the majority of the participants also described specific teachings and practices from Danza Mexica related to AOD and HIV prevention and response, emphasizing cultural identity, community support, and healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article illuminates the main risks that American Indian/ Alaska Native women face for contracting the human immunodeficiency virus, and their challenges in living with HIV disease, by presenting a case study of one Native woman's experiences. The woman, a member of a Midwestern Indian tribe, was a participant in a larger in-depth qualitative longitudinal study of 55 women living with HIV. The findings about her path to healing provide insights for understanding and serving this neglected ethnic population, and her words eloquently articulate the struggles of women of color living in dignity with HIV. The article explores potential venues for reaching Native women with culturally relevant prevention and intervention methods, emphasizing the importance of Native culture and spirituality. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]