Mental Health Resources

You are not alone. 

Mental health can affect anyone- friends, family, clients, and community members. Just like tattoos leave a permanent mark on the body, emotional experiences leave a lasting imprint on our minds and hearts. Sometimes we need professional support, connection, or someone to listen. Below are local and national resources to help guide people toward the right kind of help.

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Douglas Broncho Opinion

"As a tattoo artist, I believe I empower individuals with permanent art through suffering. Some people are logical about their body art, I respect their decisions. Some overcame an obstacle and made an achievement in life, I honor it. Many, like the attention they receive and I love tattooing crazy designs. Healing and protections is my duty in life.  But, I've had some human beings use my art in a negative way. Sometimes tattoos are not the answer and become a permanent reminder of an awful time in their life. I don't like to contribute my energy towards intrusive decisions. I am listing my reasons and resources to guide my community in a good way."

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Traditional Native Healing Practices

Sweat Lodge

Nobody is perfect in this life and we all go through different hardships that feel too big to overcome. Sweat lodge helps reconnect our community through songs, prayer, and suffering in a good way together. Sometimes us human beings tend to isolate and tackle the world on our own. When we're around good human beings, we can become humbled with each other's laughter and concern of one another. We are a small-community and family is everywhere. We must circle ourselves with helpful human beings and support each other.

Local community sweat is held every Wednesday evening at the Waapi Kani "Cedar House" Mental Wellness & Recovery Center and every Friday evening behind the Not-Tsoo Gah-Nee Indian Health Center (Fort Hall Clinic). There are families across the Fort Hall Indian Reservation that has their own sweats. If you are interested in participating with individual family, be respectful and ask for permission first. They will protect their peace so not everyone is entitled to join. 

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Prayer

Wake up before the sun rises and have a glass of water ready. As the sun peaks above the Ridgeline facing east, pour some water clockwise towards the four directions and sip it as you pray. You may use tobacco too during the day if you missed sunrise. It's an offering to the creator so offer your tobacco in the four directions as you pray. Below is an example of what I pray for but you may change it to your style. I just ask you don't pray for nothing evil or selfish like. There is a debt to everything and must be careful of what you ask for.

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"Father Sky, Mother Earth, Four Directions, thank you for blessing me with my family, friends, and community. Please continue to give them love and strength to heal and protect their circle of family, friends and their own community. Thank you for teaching me life lessons and I hope I overcame those obstacles in a good way. If I handled it in a negative way please forgive me for being stubborn and hard-headed. Sometimes I learn your best lessons the hardest way. I ask you send blessings to my enemies because they are suffering too. One day we can forgive and support each other in a good way. Please send your blessings for anyone that is hurt or overcoming sickness. Help them with their physical, emotional, and mental health. I wish they heal in a good way. Please send your blessings to our first responders, military, and veteran families. They provide a service that is thankless so they need healing and protection too. Please send your blessings to our natural resources like our water, food, and wild game. I understand there's an ecosystem for everything and we must look out for one another. Thank you for listening to my prayer as a humble human being. I am fearless knowing your guidance points me in the right direction.

Oose' All my relations."

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I am offering this information to anyone that needs help or guidance but I am not trying to overstep my boundaries and be disrespectful with my knowledge. I am a student of life too and make mistakes. Correct me if I misspoke on a subject.