Mental health. It can mean so many different labels to each of us: a difficult bipolar
boss, depressed sister-in-law, antisocial friend. Not surprisingly, several recent academic studies of multicultural
mental health programs present two major problems facing modern indigenous peoples: first, attempts by members of the
dominant culture to interpret native behavior through norms not shared by the tribal culture, and secondly, a
continuing colonial attempt to convert others to a "better" culture. A survey of current academic literature,
government agency statistics, and interviews with native experts reveals what is now being done to blend cultural
practices with mainstream medications and therapy in order to tackle this critical need.
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