As a clinical therapist, my dream is to find a way to achieve holistic mental health for the Micronesian community. I grew up in Michigan with my family who immigrated to the US, where mental health is not as taboo as it is in Micronesia. Because of this, I have been looking for ways to combine the best parts of these two cultures.
At one point in Micronesia’s history, young men between 15 and 30 were dying at some of the world’s highest rates. Suicide in Micronesia became noticeable in the 1960s when many saw it as a way of “problem solving.”*2 Although overall suicide rates across the region peaked in the early 1980s, they remained above global averages well into the 2000s.*3 Additionally, Micronesians who migrated to the US under the Compact of Free Association serve in the US military at greater rates than US citizens, with some of those veterans suffering from PTSD. Plus, during World War II, the islands were used by larger countries as battlegrounds, and after the war, the ocean and surrounding areas were used for nuclear testing, leaving many to suffer from the terrible aftermath.
Many Micronesians worry about the stigma of mental health, but therapy can help one’s emotional well-being. For most of Micronesian history, our “talking stories” tradition and conversations with loved ones have been great ways of self-care. Stargazing, dancing, walking along mountain trails, and making things with your hands can also be helpful. It is also tradition to seek out a healer when not feeling well. In Western cultures, these can vary from specialists to general doctors, some of whom work specifically with mental health, and our healers are no different. Many Micronesians need these spiritual healers and rely on traditional medicine, as our islands are full of fruits and plants that can soothe various feelings.
My dream is to find ways to integrate traditional Micronesian medicine with progressive interventions so Micronesians can have adequate and holistic mental health services. There are layers to this concern, ranging from the lack of resources in Micronesia to lack of health care in the US. But if this dream is realized, we will better our physical health, educational achievements, and relationships with friends and family. Mental health is the root of so many facets of our lives.