STANDING WITH STANDING ROCK
PROVIDING APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO THE WATER
PROTECTORS
Society of Indian Psychologists - December 2016
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DISCLAIMER
THIS TRAINING IS INTENDED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSES OF ENSURING THAT MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO
PLAN TO OFFER ASSISTANCE TO AND WITHIN THE WATER PROTECTOR CAMPS AT STANDING ROCK DO SO IN A
CULTURALLY-APPROPRIATE MANNER AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH FIELD BEST PRACTICES.
THE SOCIETY OF INDIAN PSYCHOLOGISTS (SIP) OPENLY SUPPORTS THE STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBE’S EFFORTS TO
RETAIN THEIR SOVEREIGNTY AMIDST INCURSIONS BY THE DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE (DAPL). HOWEVER, SIP AND ITS
MEMBERS DO NOT OFFICIALLY ENDORSE OR CONDONE ANY ILLEGAL ACTS THAT MAY BE COMMITTED BY WATER
PROTECTORS IN THEIR PROTEST AGAINST DAPL, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, OR OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.
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#NODAPL
THE DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE (DAPL) BEGAN CONSTRUCTION IN
2014 AND REACHED NORTH DAKOTA IN SPRING 2016.
MANY NATIVES AND NON-NATIVES ALIKE HAVE CONCERNS
REGARDING THE PIPELINE, TO INCLUDE DISTURBANCE OF VIABLE
FARMLAND, CLAIMS OF EMINENT DOMAIN, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR
OIL LEAKS AND WATER CONTAMINATION.
MEMBERS OF THE STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBE AND OTHER NATIONS
BEGAN CAMPING IN PROTEST OF THE CONSTRUCTION IN APRIL 2016.
TODAY, MULTIPLE CAMPS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED ALONG THE
CANNONBALL RIVER.
WHILE THE STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBAL CHAIRMAN, DAVE
ARCHAMBAULT, JR., STATES THAT THE RESISTANCE HAS BEEN
NONVIOLENT, PEACEFUL, AND PRAYERFUL, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
HAVE ARRESTED HUNDREDS OF WATER PROTECTORS FOR VARIOUS
ALLEGED OFFENSES.
THUS FAR, WATER PROTECTORS HAVE REPORTED FEELING THREATENED
BY THE PRESENCE OF MILITARIZED POLICE FORCES AND NATIONAL
GUARDSMEN, BEING SPRAYED WITH PEPPER SPRAY, BEING FORCIBLY
REMOVED FROM CEREMONIES, BEING ARRESTED FOR UNFOUNDED
CHARGES, AND BEING DEMEANED WHILE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
CUSTODY (TO INCLUDE UNNECESSARY STRIP SEARCHES AND
CONFINEMENT IN CELLS INTENDED FOR TEMPORARY USE.
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Photo courtesy of Marty TwoBulls, m2bulls.com
CEREMONY
“I ASK YOU TO JOIN ME ON THIS ENDEAVOR. OUR
VISION IS FOR THE PEOPLES OF ALL CONTINENTS,
REGARDLESS OF THEIR BELIEFS IN THE CREATOR, TO
COME TOGETHER AS ONE AT THEIR SACRED SITES TO
PRAY AND MEDITATE AND COMMUNE WITH ONE
ANOTHER, THUS PROMOTING AN ENERGY SHIFT TO
HEAL OUR MOTHER EARTH AND ACHIEVE A UNIVERSAL
CONSCIOUSNESS TOWARD ATTAINING PEACE.”
CHIEF ARVOL LOOKING HORSE
AUGUST 2016
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Photo courtesy of gatheringtribes.com
CEREMONY
• GIVEN THE PROPHECIES AND ONGOING
CEREMONIES REGARDING DAPL, TYPICAL
“PSYCHOLOGICAL” SERVICES ARE NOT
NECESSARILY VITAL TO THE PROTECTION,
MOTIVATION, AND SUSTAINMENT OF THE
WATER PROTECTORS
• INSTEAD, A MORE CULTURALLY-APPROPRIATE
APPROACH WOULD BE TO FOREFRONT THE
WATER PROTECTORS’ GROUNDING IN
SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN ORDER
TO MAINTAIN THEIR RESILIENCE
• THAT SAID, WELL-TRAINED AND HUMBLE MENTAL
HEALTH PROVIDERS CAN OFFER AN, ADMITTEDLY
LOWLY, ADJUNCT TO THE CEREMONIAL EFFORTS
WITHIN THE CAMPS BY WAY OF AN ADAPTED
DISASTER MENTAL HEALTH (DMH) MODEL
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Photos courtesy of Google Images
DISASTER MENTAL HEALTH
• DISASTER MENTAL HEALTH INVOLVES THE
PROVISION OF PSYCHOLOGICALLY- AND
BEHAVIORALLY-BASED SERVICES TO
ADDRESS NORMATIVE RESPONSES TO
TRAUMATIC EVENTS AND TO MITIGATE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF RELATED
PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
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Photo courtesy of GoFundMe.org
DMH CORE STRATEGIES
PRE-EXPOSURE PREPARATION
•
PSYCHOEDUCATION AND COACHING CAN ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
HELPFUL COPING STRATEGIES BEFORE A TRAUMATIC EVENT IS EXPERIENCED
•
PROVIDERS INTENDING TO WORK IN THE CAMPS SHOULD CONSIDER
PROVIDING PRE-EXPOSURE SERVICES FOR PURPOSES OF BOTH PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY PREVENTION
•
PRIMARY: BRIEFING CAMP NEWCOMERS ON CURRENT EVENTS, EXPECTED
EXPERIENCES IN THE CAMP, HEALTHY COPING STRATEGIES, ETC.
•
SECONDARY: MEET WITH CAMP LEADERSHIP AND HEALING MEDICS TO
DISCUSS POTENTIAL TRAUMATIC EXPOSURES AND WAYS TO
DEVELOP/SUSTAIN HEALTHY COPING DESPITE REPEATED EXPOSURE
PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID
•
BASIC OBJECTIVES:
-
ESTABLISH A GENUINE HUMAN CONNECTION
-
ENHANCE IMMEDIATE AND ONGOING SAFETY, PROVIDE EMOTIONAL COMFORT
-
CALM AND ORIENT DISTRAUGHT SURVIVORS
-
ASSESS SURVIVORS’ NEEDS
-
PROVIDE PRACTICAL INFORMATION TO HELP SURVIVORS ADDRESS THEIR
IMMEDIATE NEEDS
-
CONNECT SURVIVORS WITH SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT
-
PROMOTE ADAPTIVE COPING TO NORMATIVE TRAUMA RESPONSES VIA
CONSULTATION AND EDUCATION
-
BE AVAILABLE/PRESENT, AND REFER SURVIVORS TO ADDITIONAL SERVICES AS
NEEDED
•
SEE HTTP://WWW.PTSD.VA.GOV/PROFESSIONAL/MATERIALS/MANUALS/PSYCH-
FIRST-AID.ASP FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PFA RESOURCES
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DMH CORE STRATEGIES, CONT’D
PSYCHOEDUCATION
•
IN ADDITION TO PRE-EXPOSURE PREPARATION AND PFA,
ADDITIONAL PSYCHOEDUCATION HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY
CAMP PERSONNEL
•
RECOMMENDED PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL TOPICS INCLUDE:
•
SELF-CARE
•
SLEEP HYGIENE
•
RELAXATION TRAINING
EMBEDDED SUPPORT
•
THE HEALING MEDICS IN PARTICULAR HAVE REQUESTED THAT
MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS BE PRESENT TO ASSIST THEM IN
MANAGING THEIR OWN UNIQUE EXPOSURES INCURRED WHILE
CARING FOR OTHER WATER PROTECTORS
•
THIS TYPE OF EMBEDDED SUPPORT CENTERS ON BEING
PHYSICALLY PRESENT WITH THE MEDICS AND ENAGING IN
GENUINE DISCOURSE WITH THEM AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE
•
IF THE PROVIDER IS VIEWED AS CREDIBLE, HELPFUL, EARNEST,
AND COMPASSIONATE, THE HEALING MEDICS WILL BECOME
COMFORTABLE SEEKING CONSULTATION/COACHING
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CRISIS MANAGEMENT
•
WHILE THE PRIMARY GOALS FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS’ PRESENCE
IN THE CAMPS WILL BE PREVENTION AND CONSULTATION, CERTAIN
SITUATIONS MAY PRESENT A PSYCHIATRIC CRISIS
•
TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE IDENTIFICATION OF SUCH ISSUES IS CRITICAL
•
REFERENCE CURRENT SAMHSA GUIDANCE FOR FIELD BEST PRACTICES IN
CRISIS RESPONSE: HTTP://STORE.SAMHSA.GOV/SHIN/CONTENT/SMA09-
4427/SMA09-4427.PDF
•
LIFE IN THE CAMPS IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO ROUTINE MENTAL HEALTH CARE
•
THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS AND SYMPTOMS ARE LIKELY
INCONSISTENT WITH BEING IN THE CAMP, AND MAY WARRANT
EVACUATING THE INDIVIDUAL FROM THE CAMP AND/OR REFERRAL
TO EMERGENCY SERVICES:
•
SUICIDAL IDEATION, PLANS, OR INTENT
•
NON-SUICIDAL SELF-DIRECTED VIOLENCE
•
HOMICIDAL IDEATION, PLANS, OR INTENT
•
MANIA/HYPOMANIA
•
PSYCHOSIS
•
ONGOING SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES
•
*RECKLESS, DANGEROUS, OR ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR MAY ALSO BE
INDICATIVE OF A MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN THAT IS
CONTRAINDICATED BOTH IN THE CAMP AND IN CEREMONY IN
GENERAL. CONSULT WITH LOCAL MEDICS AND CAMP LEADERS IF
SUCH BEHAVIORS ARE NOTED.
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Photo courtesy of theguardian.com
LOCAL RESOURCES
FORT YATES HOSPITAL (IHS)
• EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
• OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
• (701) 854-3831
• 25.6MI FROM CANNON BALL, ND
CHI ST. ALEXIUS HEALTH
• EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
• PSYCHIATRY
• OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
• PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION PROGRAM
• (701) 530-7000
• 46.9MI FROM CANNON BALL, ND
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LOCAL RESOURCES, CONT’D
STANDING ROCK SIOUX 24-HR EMERGENCY
AMBULANCE PROGRAM
(701) 854-3451
ND CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES
(701) 854-3431
STANDING ROCK SIOUX VETERANS SERVICES
DEPARTMENT
(701) 854-8527
STANDING ROCK SIOUX TREATMENT
PROGRAM (ADULTS & YOUTH)
• OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
• CASE MANAGEMENT
• ADULT PROGRAM: (701) 854-
7219/7210/7649
• YOUTH SERVICES: (701) 854-7115
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PROVIDER SELF-SUFFICIENCY
• CAMP LIFE IS AUSTERE, AND MORE SO NOW THAT
WINTER IS UPON US
• SIP MEMBERS DEPLOYING TO THE CAMPS SHOULD
DO SO UNDER THE PRESUMPTION THAT THEY MUST
BE ENTIRELY SELF-SUFFICIENT.
• BEFORE AGREEING TO TRAVEL TO STANDING ROCK,
KNOW THAT THE PRIMARY NEED IS TO HAVE
INDIVIDUALS IN THE CAMPS, AND THAT STAYING IN
A HOTEL OR OTHER PLACES OFF-SITE WILL LIMIT
YOUR AVAILABILITY TO THOSE WHO NEED YOU
• ENSURE THAT YOU BRING ENOUGH PERSONAL
WINTER ATTIRE, WINTER CAMPING SUPPLIES, AND
MEANS OF PROVIDING HEAT AND FOOD FOR
YOURSELF.
• DO NOT RELY ON THE CAMP KITCHEN OR EXISTING
TRIBAL NATION-SPECIFIC CAMPS TO PROVIDE YOUR
ACCOMMODATIONS OR FOOD
• WORK WITH SIP STAFF TO ENSURE YOU HAVE
ENOUGH PFA SUPPLIES AND OTHER MATERIALS
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE AT THE CAMPS, AS THERE WILL
NOT BE ACCESS TO PRINTERS, COPIERS, ETC.
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PROVIDER SUSTAINMENT
• IN ORDER TO BE HELPFUL, PROVIDERS MUST MAINTAIN
A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF PERSONAL RESILIENCE
• ENGAGE IN GOOD SELF-CARE ACROSS EMOTIONAL,
COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, SPIRITUAL, AND PHYSICAL
DOMAINS
• LIMIT TIME SPENT ON THE “FRONT LINE” IN ORDER TO
MITIGATE PERSONAL RISK OF TRAUMATIC EXPOSURE (IF
YOU CAN HELP IT, DON’T BECOME A MENTAL OR
PHYSICAL CASUALTY. THERE ARE VERY FEW LOCAL
MENTAL HEALTH ASSETS TO REPLACE YOU IF YOU NEED
TO TAKE A BREAK OR LEAVE THE CAMP)
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CHANGING CAMP DEMOGRAPHICS
•
NATIVE PERSONNEL WHO SPENT TIME AT THE CAMPS IN
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER HAVE NOTED THAT, WHAT WAS
PREVIOUSLY AND PREDOMINANTLY INDIGENOUS CAMP AND
MOVEMENT HAS EXPERIENCED AN INFLUX OF NON-NATIVE
INDIVIDUALS
•
MANY OF THESE NON-NATIVE FOLKS CAME TO OFFER THEIR
SUPPORT AGAINST VARIOUS PRE-EXISTING CLIMATE CHANGE
AND ANTI-PIPELINE CAUSES
•
WHILE MANY WELCOME THE SUPPORT OF NEWCOMERS, THE
CAMPS’ POPULATIONS HAVE SHIFTED DRAMATICALLY FROM
LARGELY INDIGENOUS AND CEREMONY-DRIVEN, TO MOSTLY
NON-NATIVE AND “PROTEST” DRIVEN
•
FROM A TRADITIONAL STANDPOINT, THOSE WHO IN THE
CAMPS WHO APPROACH THE DAPL ISSUE FROM A
CEREMONIAL STANDPOINT REQUIRE LITTLE ASSISTANCE OR
PROTECTION FROM WESTERN MENTAL HEALTH APPROACHES
•
THE INFLUENCE OF THE NON-NATIVE DEMOGRAPHY SHIFT HAS
INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL WHO MAY BENEFIT
FROM OR REQUIRE PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID. IT HAS ALSO
INTRODUCED NEW, AND TROUBLING, PROBLEMS WITH
SUBSTANCE USE AND INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR AT THE CAMPS
•
SIP MEMBERS THAT DEPLOY TO THE CAMPS CAN ALSO ASSIST
CAMP LEADERSHIP BY CONSULTING REGARDING HOW TO BEST
INCORPORATE THE NEW VOICES WITHOUT DISRUPTING
EXISTING CAMP LIFE AND PERMITTING CO-OPTING OF A
CEREMONIAL AND SOVEREIGNTY-BASED ISSUE.
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RE-DEPLOYMENT AND CONTINUITY
• WHEN YOU FINISH YOUR TIME IN THE CAMP (OR IN
OTHER DUTIES), PLEASE CONTACT SIP STAFF TO
COMPLETE AN OUTBRIEF
• THE OUTBRIEF CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED VIA PHONE
AND WILL HELP SIP TO ENSURE 1) HOW YOU ARE
DOING, 2) WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCE WAS LIKE, 3) IF
ANY ADDITIONAL TRAINING IS NEEDED FOR
PROVIDERS, AND 4) IF ANY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
ARE NEEDED
• YOUR INPUT IS CRUCIAL TO ENSURING CONTINUITY
IN OUR EFFORT TO ASSIST THE WATER PROTECTORS
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ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
• SUGGESTED PFA ACTIVITIES
• PFA HANDBOOK
• CAMP MAP
• STANDING ROCK INFO PACK FROM TRIBAL
AND SPIRITUAL LEADERS
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