Mental Health Disparities Among American Indian and Alaska Native Groups in California

Recent research highlights significant mental health disparities among different subgroups of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) populations in California. Over one-third of AIAN adults in the state experienced moderate to severe psychological distress within the past year. However, alarmingly, 61% of these individuals had not accessed any mental health or medical services during that period, pointing to substantial unmet healthcare needs.

The study utilized data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) spanning 2019 to 2023, allowing for detailed analysis of AIAN subgroups. Notably, adults identifying as both AIAN and Latino (23%) or AIAN and multiracial (24%) were approximately 1.5 times more likely to experience serious psychological distress compared to those identifying solely as AIAN (15%). Similar trends were observed for moderate distress levels.

Disaggregated data revealed that AIAN-Latino individuals faced higher unmet mental health care needs (67%) than AIAN-multiracial (54%) or AIAN-alone (59%) adults, where unmet needs are defined as not receiving care in the past year. This pattern aligns with previous findings from UCLA research indicating that multiracial and multiethnic groups tend to have poorer mental health outcomes.

Furthermore, 68% of distressed AIAN adults reported that their mental health severely impacted vital aspects of their lives, including family, work, social interactions, and household activities, regardless of subgroup. Such impairments underscore the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions.

The disparities observed are rooted in complex social factors such as the legacy of colonization, racism, and systemic inequities. Despite entitled access to health care, including mental health services through the Indian Health Service, barriers to care persist.

The study recommends expanding the diversity of mental health providers to include more AIAN representatives, fostering collaborations with tribal organizations and community groups, and standardizing disaggregated data collection across healthcare systems to better understand and address these disparities.

Addressing these systemic issues and enhancing culturally appropriate care are crucial steps toward improving mental health outcomes for all AIAN populations in California. For further details, visit the full study.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-mental-health-inequities-american-indian.html