There are many different mental illnesses that have affected Aboriginal people in the past and continue to today. At the present time, I believe there is much for me to learn regarding this topic on Indigenous people. After doing some research, I came across the Canadian Mental Health Association website which provided me with a great article on Aboriginal people. I have learned many interesting as well as devastating facts about how mental illness has impacted their culture.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, many of the mental health problems currently observed among the Aboriginal peoples population are attributed to colonization, residential schools, discrimination, and oppression. In addition, the article highlights the loss of land, language and livelihood as an influential aspect regarding current health statuses (Canadian Health Association). In class we viewed numerous alarming videos on the topic of Aboriginal mental illness and these videos have enlightened me on the severity of the problems of which Aboriginal people face. I found it extremely disturbing to know what Aboriginal culture has endured and that the inequities are still apparent today. One of the most common illnesses is depression. This is commonly credited to colonization, residential schools, discrimination and oppression. Depression is commonly linked to suicide (Canadian Mental health Association).
“Suicide and self-injury were the leading causes of death for Aboriginal Youths. In 2000, suicide accounted for 22 percent of all deaths among Aboriginal Youth (aged 10 to 19 years) and 16 percent of all deaths among Aboriginal people aged 20 to 44 years” (Canadian Mental Health Association). This article also shows the huge differences between Canadian and Aboriginal populations. To be more specific, the rate of suicide among Aboriginal female adolescents is eight times higher than the rest of the Canadian population. For males it is five times above Canadian rate (Canadian Mental Health Association). I believe these facts can be traced back to residential schools. This loss of culture seen in residential school students has been passed on to following generations through alcohol abuse, poverty, and depression, among others.
This article also states that “rates of mental health problems, such as suicide, depression, and substance abuse, are significantly higher in many Aboriginal communities than in the general population. The rate of suicide among Aboriginals is 2.1 times the Canadian rate. Similarly, the rate of suicide for Aboriginal women is three times the national rate” (Canadian Mental Health Association). This fact is very upsetting.I believe that communities need to provide support and care for the individual who live within them. In this article Aboriginal Mental health what works best, I found it really amazing what this community has done to try and help prevent suicide rate and stress in their community from increasing.
In this Northern Saskatchewan reserve as a community, they made a child care centre. This centre would help them in many ways, it would be lead by " first nation culture,tradition and values, and would be operated according to the highest standards of education and care in the country" (Smye & Mussell,2001). This way the children would be able to learn and understand their culture and values. They would be able to practice their beliefs. Also having this centre in their community would allow Aboriginal people to become certified daycare teachers(Smye & Mussell,2001). Providing an education for those who have not be able to receive this equality.
As well it would get the older adults involved in the community and they would be able to commit their time in teaching classes each week (Smye & Mussell,2001). I believe this project would help with the healing process and recolonization. I believe residential schools are the majority of reasoning why depression influences Aboriginal peoples live, but their are many other areas as well. Having a community that works together and supports one another is the best cure.
Sara
Citations:
Canadian Mental Health Association. (n.d.). Aboriginal People/First Nations.
Retrieved from: http://www.ontario.cmha.ca/about_mental_health.asp?cID=23053
Smye,V, and Mussell,B.(2001). Aboriginal Mental Health "What works the best". Manitoba Health Evaluation & Community Consultation Unit.
Retrieved from:
http://www.london.cmha.ca/data/1/rec_docs/1598_Aboriginal%20Mental%20Health%20What%20Works%20Best.pdf
Hi Sara,
ReplyDeleteI liked your post, I think this is a significant issue especially for the indigenous youth that continue to be impacted by generational impacts of the residential school system and the oppression faced. I also believe that there needs to be more social programming for youth on and off reserve but because of the conservative government social programs that are developed are cut or won’t be funded because as we know the conservative government does not believe in the social well being of those who are marginalized, because they are seen as bringing it upon themselves which in my opinion is absurd because everyone deserves to be healthy mentally and physically.
-Danielle
Good post!
ReplyDeleteI knew little about this topic too, but i like the link to the website it has some good information in it. I agree that most of the depression and suicides that aboriginals face is from the residential schools. Also taking the culture away form them had a significant cause on mental illness.
-samantha
Sara great post! This makes me feel ashamed of our past government decisions because clearly the impacts of those decisions are still being felt today. We are suppose to be a society built upon multiculturalism, yet in our past we took actions that go against this. I just also want to mention the complete shock I felt when I read that aboriginal suicide rates are eight times higher than the rest of the Canadian population. I had no idea that their was such a gap in percentages.
ReplyDelete-Morgan
Hi Sara,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post on this issue that has impacted so many Aboriginal communities and families. I believe you made a important connections to the influence of residential schools and oppression on the statistics of depression and suicide amongst Aboriginal populations. I also feel it is important issue that needs to be taught to our Canadian population in order to create change.
Thanks for sharing!!
-Stephanie M.
I enjoyed your post Sara,
ReplyDeleteI think suicide is a major problem in First Nations communities, among others. Its really sad, some as young as 9 years old take their own lives. I was reading this in the news a few years ago, a young boy from up north committed suicide (8 or 9 yrs old) - very disturbing. I couldnt agree more with the others, more needs to be done on behalf of governments to address this issue - i.e, social programming in terms of healing and prevention programs.
Thanks for bringing up this important issue.
Dara
Although Canada may have made a start to fixing the way Aboriginal people are treated in our society, we still have a long way to go. It is astounding how the conditions of some Aboriginal people are today. There defiantly needs to have more social change happening in our country. This is the "tip of the iceberg" on this topic, good blog post Sara.
ReplyDelete-Chandra B
Great post! I didn't know much about this topic but your post helped me. I'm glad that they added helpful things to reserves such as the child care centre that you stated. I've heard that it can be very hard living on a reserve and I'm sure any help they are given is greatly appreciated.
ReplyDelete-Nicole (Nikki) S.