Mental Health and Well-

Being for Indigenous

Learners In Schools

EDUC 692: Special Topics: Indigenous Peoples and Health in

Canada
Dr. Margo Greenwood
July 27, 2023
Lobat Fateh
Breanne Dar
Definitions of mental health

"Mental health is a state of mental

well-being that enables people to
"Mental wellness is a balance of the
cope with the stresses of life, realize
mental, physical, spiritual, and
their abilities, learn well and work
emotional." (Health Canada)
well, and contribute to their
community." (WHO organization)
Indigenous Views of Mental Health and Well-
Being
 Mental health is not separate from overall well-being
 Balance & harmony
 Connection to family, community and nature
 Health is whole person – mind, body, emotions, spirit
 Mino-Pimatisiwin - "walking in a good way"
 Current state of mental health for Indigenous
youth
 1 in 5 Indigenous youth diagnosed with mood disorder
 1 in 4 Indigenous youth diagnosed with anxiety
 High suicide rates (The suicide rate in 2011-2016 was
three times higher in Indigenous people than among
non-Indigenous people, The suicide rate was higher

among males than females)

Source: Statistics Canada, 2011 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort integrating
the 2011 National Household Survey with Canadian Vital Statistics Database
(2011-2016).

 Addiction (25 percent of Indigenous peoples in Canada suffer

from addiction, compared to 17 percent of the general
population, and suicide rates in Indigenous youth are six times
higher than in non-Indigenous Canadian populations(March 2022)
https://hir.harvard.edu/indigenous-healthcare-in-canada
 suicidal rates by age group and gender, 1994-2006
Adapted from “Building from the bridges: Learning. by McKay, K. (2009), Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention

Prevalence of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use among students in grades 9–12 by Indigenous ethnicity,
2008/09 and 2014/15-Abbreviations: CSTADS, Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drug Survey;
YSS, Youth Smoking Survey.
* Significant difference (p < 0.05).
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-
practice/vol-39-no-6-7-2019/tobacco-alcohol-marijuana-use-indigenous-youth-off-reserve-schools.html
Root causes of mental health concerns for
Indigenous youth
 Effects of colonization
 Loss of Identity
 Inequality
 Loss of culture
 Multi-generational trauma
 Isolation
 Racism
 Determinants of health
 Covid 19 pandemic
 Prevention Strategies in Schools

Training teachers to Land-based activities Connection to culture Improve physical Create cultural safety
support mental health wellness
Foundational Principles
for School health

1. Interconnectedness/relationships
2. Cultural identity
3. Self-reliance and collective ownership
Interconnectedness & Relationships

 Relationships are the foundations for well-being ( Tagalik, 2010)

 Elders
 Community
 Land
Cultural Identity
 Promote self-reliance and
collective ownership
 Create a welcoming and inclusive school community
 Develop and implement educational curricula that
incorporate Indigenous knowledge, languages, and history
 Invite Indigenous role models, including elders and
successful Indigenous professionals
 Encourage and support Indigenous students to take on
leadership roles within the school or community
 Focus on the strengths and talents of Indigenous students
rather than solely on their challenges
 Provide holistic support services that address not only
academic needs but also social, emotional, and cultural well-
being
 Encourage Indigenous students to take the lead in projects
that reflect their interests and passions
 Involve Indigenous families and communities in the
education process
Decision Making from July 20 presentation
Initiative: Land-based activity
Service delivery level
 Prevention Strategies in Schools

Training teachers to Land-based activities Connection to culture Improve physical Create cultural safety
support mental health wellness
Root causes of mental health concerns for
Indigenous youth
 Effects of colonization
 Loss of Identity
 Inequality
 Loss of culture
 Multi-generational trauma
 Isolation
 Racism
 Covid 19 pandemic
Cultural safety

 Schools need to include safety of identity, culture and language for

Indigenous learners (Katz, 2012)
Holistic mental health approaches

 "Culture is at the heart of each strategy,

including the important role that
Indigenous languages, identity and
knowledges play in achieving wellness
across the lifespan" (Atkinson, 2017)
 Land based activities
 Connection to elders
 Focus on resilience
 Mental health literacy programs
 Culturally safe
 Strengths based
 Family and community oriented
Indigenous Views of Mental Health and Well-
Being
 Mental health is not separate from overall well-being
 Balance & harmony (Assembly of First Nations & Health Canada,2015)
 Purpose
 Hope
 Belonging
 Meaning
 Connection to family, community and nature
 Mino-Pimatisiwin - "walking in a good way"
Root causes of mental health concerns for
Indigenous youth
 Effects of colonization
 Loss of Identity
 Inequality
 Loss of culture
 Multi-generational trauma
 Isolation
 Racism
 Determinants of health
 Covid 19 pandemic
 Prevention Strategies in Schools

Training teachers to Land-based activities Connection to culture Improve physical Create cultural safety
support mental health wellness
Foundational Principles
for School health

1. Interconnectedness/relationships
2. Cultural identity
3. Self-reliance and collective ownership
Interconnectedness & Relationships

 Relationships are the foundations for well-being ( Tagalik, 2010)

 Elders
 Community
 Land
Cultural Identity

 Beliefs, values and principles

 "Who we are cannot be separated
from what we do, how we do it
and how we feel about things"
(Tagalik, 2010)
Holistic mental health approaches

 Land based activities

 Connection to elders
 Focus on resilience
 Mental health literacy programs
 Culturally safe
 Strengths based
 Family and community oriented

"Culture is at the heart of each strategy,

including the important role that Indigenous
languages, identity and knowledges play in
achieving wellness across the lifespan"
(Atkinson, 2017)
Holistic mental health approaches

 Land based activities

 Connection to elders
 Focus on resilience
 Mental health literacy programs
 Culturally safe
 Strengths based
 Family and community oriented

"Culture is at the heart of each strategy,

including the important role that Indigenous
languages, identity and knowledges play in
achieving wellness across the lifespan"
(Atkinson, 2017)
Critical Thinking

 What are the social determinants

of mental health?
 In what ways can you address
holistically address mental health
in your workplace?
Questions, comments?

 Critical thinking?
 Are there any question?
  Antoine, A., Mason, R., Mason, R., & Palahicky, S. (2018). Curriculum developers:
pulling together : a guide for indigenization of post-secondary institutions. BCcampus.
 Assembly of First Nations & Health Canada. (2015). The First Nations mental wellness
continuum framework (Health Canada Publication Number 140358). Retrieved from
http://health.afn.ca/uploads/files/24-14-1273-fn-mental-wellness-framework-en05_low.pd
f
 Atkinson, D. (2017). Considerations for Indigenous child and youth population mental
health promotion in Canada. Canada: National Collaborating Centres for Public Health
 Carriere, J., & Richardson, C. (2020). Relationship is Everything: Holistic Approaches to

References Aboriginal Child and Youth Mental Health. First Peoples Child & Family Review, 7(2),
8–26. https://doi.org/10.7202/1068837ar
 Government of Canada, S. C. (2021, December 1). Chapter 4: Indigenous Youth in
Canada.
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/42-28-0001/2021001/article/00004-eng.htm
 Katz, J. (2012). Teaching to diversity: the three-block model of universal design for
learning. Portage & Main Press.
 Tagalik S. A framework for Indigenous school health: foundations in cultural principles.
Prince George: National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health; 2010.
 World Health Organization. (2014). Social determinants of mental health. World Health
Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/112828