The Pima Indians suffer from the world's highest rate of Diabetes with lower limb amputation as a secondary result of the disease. In addition, research has discovered that the prevalence of End Stage Renal Disease is higher among Native Americans with Diabetes. Establishing programs in health education that target primary grade students that teach diet, exercise, prevention, and health maintenance in conjunction with traditional values and beliefs must begin immediately in order to slow the damaging effects of this disease. This program must be Tribe Specific in order to be effective. Funds need to be allocated in every fiscal year budget.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Native American adolescents.
The suicide rate for American Indian youth ages 10-25 years in the Standing Rock Lakota population is approximately 16 times the suicide rate in this age group in the general U.S. population during the last year. In March of 1996, there were only 59 psychologists in the Indian Health Service. Currently there are only 25 full time psychiatrists employed by the Indian Health Service. Adolescent Health Issues such as substance abuse of all categories, suicide, obesity, identity-related issues such as gang participation and behavioral disorders are on the rise and the Indian Health Service does not have the health care providers to address these problems. These adolescent problems will not go away but will grow into adult problems, not too many years down the road.