By Adriana Manygoats de Julio, M.D., M.S.P.H., DFAPA

Dr. Adriana Manygoats de Julio is a young and passionate Diné (Navajo) and Latinx psychiatrist with a strong history of working in academia, public health, and the military. They are a first-generation college graduate, born and raised in the Navajo Nation, who are dedicated to providing neuropsychiatric care to underserved populations. They trained in neuropsychiatry, health policy, global public health, environmental disaster management, and adolescent/young adult medicine. Currently, they are part of the working group on psychedelics and the representative to the APA Assembly for the American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Caucus. They are the medical director for adult intensive services at a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic in Denver, Colorado.

The concept of Hózhó embodies a profound and vital philosophy at the heart of the Diné (Navajo) culture, encapsulating beauty, harmony, balance, and order. Hózhó signifies a state of being in which every aspect of existence — physical, spiritual, emotional, communal, and familial — harmonizes. For the Diné, the ultimate aspiration in life is to dwell in Hózhó, and this pursuit not only enriches life but also nurtures mental health.

In the Diné world that embraces Hózhó, individuals work to cultivate harmonious relationships with themselves, their communities, and the natural world around them. This dynamic and holistic approach reveals that mental health is deeply interconnected with one’s environment and spiritual ties. When thoughts, words, and actions resonate with the principles of Hózhó, a profound sense of inner peace and tranquility emerges.