Talking Circle Mental Health Intervention with a Mindfulness Approach Among Rural Native American Youth

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the outcomes of a mindfulness-based intervention for the prevention of mental health disorders among rural dwelling Native American youth ages 10-12.

Sample: Native American student participant sample (N=20) was recruited from schools from one rural Native American tribe in the Midwestern United States. The county where the study was conducted is officially designated as a nonmetropolitan county, and it is classified as rural according to the county-level system.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study measured mental health outcomes that included stress, anxiety, depression, substance use (alcohol and drugs) and commercial tobacco use. All participants were Native American who resided in rural tribal communities.

Findings: Study sample was both female (N-10) and male (N-10), with a mean age of 11.37. Participants self-reported significant decreases in mental health disorders of stress, anxiety, depression, substance use (alcohol and drugs) and commercial tobacco use from baseline pre-intervention to 3-months post intervention. Native Reliance (cultural identity) significantly increased from baseline pre-intervention to 3-months post-intervention.

Conclusion: Findings from this pilot study support the use of a mindfulness approach delivered in a cultural based Talking Circle intervention for the prevention of mental health disorders among rural dwelling Native American youth

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v26i1.799