Social Determinants of Mental Health and Well-Being among Aboriginal Peoples in Canada

The articles in this volume address the question: How do social determinants structure the health and well-being of the Aboriginal population in Canada? The first article uses bivariate statistical tests to assess whether First Nations residents’ subjective assessments of personal and community well-being correspond to scores from the Community Well-Being (CWB) Index, which is a measure of socioeconomic conditions in the community. The second article uses path analysis to test the extent to which the stress process model explains the social distribution of psychological distress and well-being in the off-reserve Aboriginal population. Specifically, it investigates whether stress, mastery, and social support mediate the pathways between social status and mental health outcomes. The results of these two chapters suggest that education is an important determinant of well-being. The final two chapters explore potential barriers to higher educational attainment. The third article uses multinomial logistic regression to assess whether intergenerational exposure to residential schools patterns educational attainment across three cohorts of First Nations adults. The fourth chapter uses churn theory to examine whether mobility patterns affect educational attainment among Aboriginal adolescents and young adults living off-reserve. Collectively, the articles presented here support the contention that the health and well-being of the Aboriginal population is tied to, although not solely determined by, their social and economic positions. CWB scores were significantly associated with residents’ perceptions of their own and community’s well-being. Stress, mastery, and social support are mediators between social status and mental health; however, it appears that specific social statuses are more strongly associated with specific mediators. In terms of educational attainment, there was no clear patterning based on intergenerational proximity or density of residenial school exposure. The results suggest that exposure alone is a poor predictor. Patterns of migration were associated with educational attainment in both cohorts. Generally, it appears that frequent moves are associated with higher odds of dropping out or falling behind in high school. However, having never moved is associated with lower odds of attending post-secondary

Introduction

Co-chaired by Dan Beavon of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Jerry White of the University of Western Ontario, and Peter Dinsdale of the National Association of Friendship Centres, the conference promoted interaction between researchers, policy-makers, and Aboriginal peoples. It expanded knowledge of the social, economic, and demographic determinants of Aboriginal well-being, and sought to identify and facilitate the means by which this knowledge may be translated into effective policies. The chapters in Volume IV address the themes of health, governance, and housing and homelessness

Introduction

Co-chaired by Dan Beavon of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Jerry White of the University of Western Ontario, and Peter Dinsdale of the National Association of Friendship Centres, the conference promoted interaction between researchers, policy-makers, and Aboriginal peoples. It expanded knowledge of the social, economic, and demographic determinants of Aboriginal well-being, and sought to identify and facilitate the means by which this knowledge may be translated into effective policies. The fifth volume in the Aboriginal Policy Research series derives from the proceedings of a pre-conference workshop on gender issues related to defining identity and Indian status (often referred to as Bill C-31). This book has two guest editors, Wendy Cornet and Erik Anderson, who were instrumental in the organizing of the workshop

Introduction

Co-chaired by Dan Beavon of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Jerry White of the University of Western Ontario, and Peter Dinsdale of the National Association of Friendship Centres, the conference promoted interaction between researchers, policy-makers, and Aboriginal peoples. It expanded knowledge of the social, economic, and demographic determinants of Aboriginal well-being, and sought to identify and facilitate the means by which this knowledge may be translated into effective policies. Volume III begins with a look at education and employment transitions, followed by issues of socio-economic well-being, and concludes with some international research

Shared Responsibility: Building Healthy Communities in Winnipeg's North End

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of inner-city residents and service providers and represent their ideas about building healthy communities. The term “inner city” is often associated with a variety of urban problems. Though there are clearly problems with the physical infrastructure, including a lack of adequate and affordable housing, in our observations, Winnipeg’s inner city is rich in resident capacity and overall social capital. The multiple barriers residents face to the fullest expression of their talents and abilities are the major threats to community health. Many agencies and community groups in the inner city have been active in addressing a variety of issues. We wanted to find out what was being done from the perspectives of people who live and work in the North End

Voices from the Margins: Experiences of Street-Involved Youth In Winnipeg

In this study we sought to hear the voices of street-involved youth. We wanted to give them a forum through which to tell their stories. We wanted to know: 1) How they came to be involved with the street? 2) What their lives were like at that point in time? 3) What things made life on the street easier or harder? 4) What might facilitate their transition off the street and keep them off? A key feature of this study is that it was conducted from the perspective of street experienced youth. We interviewed twelve young people who had been involved with the street at some point in their lives. Their stories highlight their personal struggles to survive and transcend the harsh realities of the street. The data for this study come from their narratives about their experiences. In addition, four former street youth served as research interns who assisted in the development of the research project and with interviewing

The Social Distribution of Distress and Well-Being in the Canadian Aboriginal Population Living Off Reserve

This article examines how the social structure distributes risk and protective factors and mental health outcomes within the off reserve Aboriginal population in Canada. It uses the stress process model, a prominent model in the sociology of mental health, to explore pathways between social status, stress, coping resources, and mental health outcomes. Path analyses are used to decompose total effects on distress and well-being into direct and indirect or mediating pathways. The results suggest that stress, mastery, and social support are important mediators between social status and mental health outcomes. Stress appears to be a stronger contributor to distress while mastery and social support are of higher relative importance to well-being

The Social Distribution of Distress and Well-Being in the Canadian Aboriginal Population Living Off Reserve

This article examines how the social structure distributes risk and protective factors and mental health outcomes within the off reserve Aboriginal population in Canada. It uses the stress process model, a prominent model in the sociology of mental health, to explore pathways between social status, stress, coping resources, and mental health outcomes. Path analyses are used to decompose total effects on distress and well-being into direct and indirect or mediating pathways. The results suggest that stress, mastery, and social support are important mediators between social status and mental health outcomes. Stress appears to be a stronger contributor to distress while mastery and social support are of higher relative importance to well-being