Between a rock and a hard place: The need for data in pursuit of mental health equity and barriers to appropriate and effective data collection and management in American Indian/Alaska native communities.

What is it about?

This commentary highlights the critical need for mental health data in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities, as such data is often essential for securing funding and guiding tribal leadership in health-related decision-making. However, collecting this data comes with important considerations, including the overuse of deficit-based frameworks, issues of data sovereignty, and differences in beliefs about knowledge sharing.

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Photo by Maher El Aridi on Unsplash

Photo by Maher El Aridi on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This commentary underscores the importance of collecting mental health data in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities in a way that is ethical, culturally informed, and beneficial to those communities. It highlights the need for researchers to engage AI/AN communities in all stages of the research process, prioritize strengths-based approaches, and avoid comparisons with majority groups that may reinforce deficit-based narratives.