Introducing United Indian Health Services Behavioral Health Program

Every day, Vesper Society links arms with leaders in overlooked communities that want to create a healthy future and helps them devise ways to do it. Through partnerships and collaborations, we are better able to leverage resources that have great impacts on the communities we serve.

United Indian Health Services (UIHS) in Northwest California has been providing comprehensive healthcare to Native American communities for over 40 years. Dedicated to providing mental, dental, vision, behavioral health, and community wellness services to two counties, UIHS serves more than 10,000 Native American clients.

Behavioral health services are particularly beneficial to the Yurok Tribe in the Weitchpec area of the Yurok Reservation in eastern Humboldt County. Prior to 2016, the community had extremely limited and sporadic access to behavioral health services due to the difficulty and costs of staffing in the remote location.

After the Yurok Tribe declared a State of Emergency in 2015 in response to a cluster of Native youth suicides, UIHS set out to support the community in a culturally-appropriate and significant way. The Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Agency (SAMHSA) reports that Indigenous communities that work to preserve their cultural heritage and work to control their own destinies are dramatically more successful in protecting their youth against the risks of suicide. This approach of combining culture and healthcare is essential in developing sustainable and impactful changes within this community.

After UIHS hired a full-time behavioral health clinician to work in this area, the organization focused on suicide prevention activities and education efforts in the region, and collaborated closely with county and tribal leaders to address the crisis. It was incredibly effective: the community did not experience any suicides for two years.

The State of Emergency declaration expires early this year, as does tribal funding for those services, but the need for youth suicide prevention, mental health treatment, and substance abuse treatment remains critical. Tribal government leaders are working hard to address the behavioral health crises in their communities, and UIHS is their partner in providing the services that have been proven to work.

Out of great respect for these communities, Vesper continues to work hand in hand with UIHS leadership to ensure that our initiatives are followed through in a culturally appropriate and collaborative manner. With Vesper Society’s support, UIHS Behavioral Health will continue providing programming to young people that combines cultural identity strengthening and modern mental health therapies.

We are honored to support these important long-term solutions that take us one step closer to realizing the potential for this community to thrive and prosper.