A group or community that has more challenges to accessing social, economic, legal, and environmental advantages, as well as restrictions imposed by disease or handicap, is considered to be a vulnerable population. In a group therapy environment, the practice of educating and informing persons who are in need of or obtaining mental health treatment is known as psychoeducation. A psychoeducation group for trauma in the Native American population is required since native Americans represent a vulnerable community due to historical, social difficulties and potential benefits that can occur as a result of intervention.
The individuals who resided in America prior to European migrants arrived as well as the ethnic communities who claim to be descendants of those inhabitants are known as the Indigenous native groups of America. In fact, the Spanish ancestor groups have the largest median percentage of Native American ancestry, with the median rate of 38% (Jordan et al., 2019). The African ancestor groupings and Western European ancestor groups appear in second and third places respectively (Jordan et al., 2019). It was considered to be disastrous for the indigenous population when Europeans and Africans arrived in the Americas and engaged in combat. In general, Native Americans’ population has decreased by 95%, or an estimated 100 million deaths, according to the statistics (Jordan et al., 2019). Concerning the basic demographic information about the population, it can be stated that Native Americans represent a vulnerable group due to the historic, social, and health struggles that have to be addressed.
The reasons for selecting the issue include health inequities, need for cultural correlation of therapy, lack of evidence-based interventions for Native Americans, and the benefits that can be provided by psychoeducation groups. Communities of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and First Nations people have health inequities linked to exposure to various types of trauma (Gameon & Skewes, 2020). Interventions and therapies that are culturally relevant are required to help Native American communities recover from recent and past trauma (Gameon & Skewes, 2020). While evidence-based trauma therapies are present for use with other groups, only a limited number have been tested or used with Native communities (Gameon & Skewes, 2020). Summarizing the macro, or historic and sociopolitical background of the population and the issue, Native American communities were disregarded by institutions and authorities in comparison to other vulnerable groups in terms of trauma-related therapy (Gameon & Skewes, 2020). Concerning the meso, or agency funding, medical, social, religious, families’ issues, background related to the issue, it is feasible to emphasize the historical influence of Native American reservations, which impacted the initial social relationships differences.
The group presented for the research is needed since psychoeducational groups assist the therapist in developing a topic with an activity-filled agenda. These groups are especially beneficial as they may offer tools that can expedite rehabilitation, knowledge about their trauma, and expertise to enable them to be more self-aware of the effects of their condition. Group-oriented social work intervention will be provided to the population in this case. Referring to the outcomes of the group, the population will gain support by specialists, institutional assistance, mental health sessions, in-home health ais, supervision, and education.
To summarize, in terms of the population’s fundamental demographics, it can be stated that Native Americans constitute a disadvantaged group due to the ongoing issues with their social, political, and health. The historical impact of Native American reservations, which had an impact on the early social interaction disparities, might be emphasized. Specialists, institutional aid, counseling, home health care, management, and education will all be used to serve the Native American people.
References
Gameon, J. A., & Skewes, M. C. (2020). A systematic review of trauma interventions in Native communities. American Journal of Community Psychology, 65(1-2), 223-241. Web.
Jordan I. K., Rishishwar L., & Conley A. B. (2019) Native American admixture recapitulates population-specific migration and settlement of the continental United States. PLoS Genetics, 15(9), e1008225. Web.