ABSTRACT
The Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake (UICSL) proposed project for the SAMHSA COVID-19 Emergency Response for Suicide Prevention Grants (Short Title: COVID-19 ERSP) will be used to provide crisis intervention services, mental health, substance use disorder and domestic violence services and treatment for Native American adults impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Native American communities have been hit hard by COVID-19 both on the reservation and in urban areas and access to services to support our communities’ mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health has been greatly impacted. Funding for this project will improve services that the UICSL provides through its Red Mesa Behavioral Health department to address depression, anxiety, grief, isolation, loss of employment, financial instability and domestic violence to reduce the risk of suicide and suicide attempts for Native American adults along the Wasatch Front. With this funding the UICSL will provide new and existing services though tele behavioral health platforms by purchasing necessary equipment; strengthen collaborations with expert individuals, agencies and organizations; obtain training and technical assistance and hire behavioral health, medical and traditional healing service providers. Committed to this project are leaders in the state, including: The University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute; Utah Advocates for Recovery Awareness; Sacred Circle Health Care; the University of Utah College of Nursing Faculty Practice and the Utah Division of Substance Use and Mental Health Suicide Prevention Program. This team will create and implement a comprehensive plan of evidence-based and culturally relevant mental health, substance use and domestic violence crisis and treatment services that would improve accessibility to screening and assessment of mental health, substance use and domestic violence needs, such as safety and suicide risk; improve evidence-based and culturally appropriate treatment services; improve access to therapeutic and peer recovery support services; and improve access to crisis mental health services, such as 24-hour mobile crisis teams, and emergency crisis intervention services and psychiatric/medical assessment.
The UICSL is located in Salt Lake City, UT among the eight tribal populations located in Utah: the Ute (Northern and Ute Mountain), Paiute (Paiute Indian Tribe and San Juan Band), Navajo, Goshute (Skull Valley and Confederated Bands) and has registered clients from 193 other tribal backgrounds.