WINDOW ROCK – According to the Indian Health Service, Native American people have the highest rate of suicide among other races and ethnic groups in the U.S.
As Navajo Department of Health Director Sherylene Yazzie walked with her “Self-Care Awareness Walk” group on Tuesday July 22, with Council Delegates Dr. Andy Nez and Vince James, she expressed: ‘Awhi’je’, it starts with you.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren has advocated and worked alongside NDOH and the Department of Behavioral Health Services (DBHS) to combat modern monsters, or Nay’éé, through the Diné Action Plan (DAP). The DAP, which is adopted by all executive branch offices, divisions, and departments, outlines solutions to fight against modern-day Nay’éé.
Modern-day Nayéé represent evil spirits that have taken the lives of many Navajo people including suicide, violence, substance abuse, alcohol abuse and Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives.
Back in the spring, President Nygren helped NDOH, DBHS, NDCFS, NDPS and NEMS open a new mental health facility in downtown Phoenix, the Yideeską́ądi Hózhǫ́ǫ́jí Iiná Center to provide culturally relevant substance use treatment for Navajo Nation members.
Many times, the wear and tear of someone’s mental health will take them down the road to using and relying on substances as coping mechanisms.
“Mental health is important because it goes beyond yourself right now,” said President Nygren. “When we work together to promote mental health and self-care, it means your physical self, spiritual self, and emotional self. Those are all the areas we need to address when continuing to work on advocating for mental health access for our people. It is ok not to be ok and to seek help.”
At her walk to the Navajo Nation Council Chambers, Yazzie understood that to address and promote caring for one’s mental health, one must also heal their physical self. This led to the Self-Care Awareness Walk on the second day of the Summer Session.
“It starts with us,” Yazzie said. “Selfcare is important whether you’re in the executive, judicial, or the legislative branches. Take some time out for yourselves. I’m going to stress ‘Navajo Healing Navajo,’ it starts with us, it starts with you.”