Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved

The incidence of emotional disorders and mental illness among Native American adolescents is strikingly high. Yet despite promises of support from the federal government, the mental health resources available among Indian communities are negligible and must be expanded. Two federal laws—the Indian Health Care Amendments of 1990, and the Indian Health Care Amendments of 1992—help address this problem, including the integration of community health services into schools, the development of innovative mental and physical health programs for Native American youth, and the recruitment of more health professionals into Native American communities.