NATIVE YOUTH PERSPECTIVES ON
MENTAL HEALTH AND HEALING

OVERSIGHT HEARING
SUBCOMMITTEE FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THE
UNITED STATES OF THE
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

Click Here for the written transcripts of the Oversight Hearing- Native Youth & Mental Health

UNITY Statement of Witnesses are on the following Oversight Hearing pages:

• Gonzales, Leticia, UNITY/OJJDP Peer Guide Ambassador, Bishop Paiute
  Tribe, Bishop, California …………………………………………………………………… 6
  Prepared statement of ……………………………………………………………………. 20
• Kippenberger, Cheyenne, UNITY/OJJDP Peer Guide Ambassador,
  Seminole Tribe of Florida, Hollywood, Florida ……………………………………. 6
  Prepared statement of ……………………………………………………………………. 7
• Miller, Robert ‘‘Scottie’’, Male Co-President, National UNITY Council,
  Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, LaConner, Washington ……………. 9
  Prepared statement of ……………………………………………………………………. 10
• Ovando, Marco, UNITY 25 Under 25 Youth Leader, Shoshone Paiute
  Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, Owyhee, Nevada ……………………. 3

“Mental health is a vitally important topic, particularly now as the coronavirus pandemic is afflicting our communities,” said Mary Kim Titla, UNITY executive director. “I’m proud to see our Native youth speaking before Congress, sharing their insight on what can and should be done to protect Native lives.”

According to the American Psychiatric Association, American Indian and Alaska Native children and adolescents have the highest rates of lifetime major depressive episodes, substance use disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, intergenerational trauma, suicide, and attachment disorders. This disproportionate harmful impact has been compounded by the physical and mental effects of the pandemic.

Native Youth Perspectives on Mental Health and Healing can be viewed live on Facebook (https://bit.ly/3gIq7HB) or YouTube (https://youtu.be/FUNkb4L6eqI).