Research commission examines mental health issues in the Arctic

Mental-health and behavioral issues pose dire risks to Arctic residents, who suffer from high rates of violence and depression. In 2009, the Arctic Council launched a human-health initiative that included recommendations for improving behavior and mental well-being around the circumpolar north, according to Alaska Dispatch News.

The U.S. Arctic Research Commission, which advises the president and Congress on Arctic science policy, is grappling with the task of setting priorities for mental-health and behavioral-health research.

In its new report on research goals and objectives for 2015 and 2016, the commission lists domestic violence specifically as a priority for research, along with the better-publicized environmental subjects. Domestic violence falls under the category of “improving Arctic health,” one of six broad goals announced in May.

The U.S. commission is seeking to follow up on those mental- and behavioral-health recommendations, Alaska Dispatch News writes.