Mental health promotion among American Indian children.

Programs designed to promote mental health of the children of the Navajo Indian Tribe bear priority status. 1. Among these programs are the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale, a psychological and physical assessment of the neonate. It is designed to enhance bonding as well as identify and treat neonates affected by intrauterine alcohol or other drug use of the mother during pregnancy. 2. Description of a Fetal Alcohol Syndrome project enabling over 90% of those enrolled to refrain from using alcohol during their pregnancies. Many alcohol counsellors are employed for the entire Reservation. 3. Outreach to day and boarding school aids in many ways, including suicide prevention. 4. Use of knowledge and respect for patients' culture as vital to the treatment process. 5. "Back to Native values" program, involving using not only families but clans in the treatment of problems of children, including sexual or physical abuse and violence. This provides another treatment dimension, while enhancing the self-esteem of the Native people. 6. The social work, substance abuse and mental health programs have been combined into one department named "Place of Healing", a Navajo term.