Indigenous Mental Health

A hospital on Vancouver Island was named in allegations recently revealed by British Columbia's health minister that emergency room staff played a "game" to guess the blood-alcohol level of Indigenous patients. Reference: CBC News, J. B. · C. (2020, June 23). Vancouver Island hospital named in allegations of racist “game” that sparked investigation | CBC News. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/bc-hospital-staff-indigenous-health-game-1.5623759

Discussing the growing evidence of racism and discrimination for the indigenous population in healthcare settings. Personal experiences discussed by participants addressing struggles in obtaining care due to prejudice in various Vancouver health settings. Reference: Goodman, A., Fleming, K., Markwick, N., Morrison, T., Lagimodiere, L., & Kerr, T. (2017). “They treated me like crap and I know it was because I was Native”: The healthcare experiences of Aboriginal peoples living in Vancouver’s inner city. Social Science & Medicine, 178, 87–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.01.053

Discussing various resources for aboriginal women on the DTES who are a part of the Vancouver Native Health Society (VNHS) identifying the gaps in these resources. These women often seek help less due to fears of persecution and often believe that their children will be taken away from them. Research indicated a desire for more outreach services, and more addiction services with peer mentors to be able to relate to. Reference: Benoit, C., Carroll, D., & Chaudhry, M. (2003). In search of a Healing Place: Aboriginal women in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Social Science & Medicine, 56(4), 821–833. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(02)00081-3

An essay describing the higher than normal rates of aboriginal ppl on the DTES, focusing in on the high rates of missing and murdered aboriginal women. Discussing the annual Valentine's Day Women's memorial march to support these victims & survivors. Reference: Culhane, D. (2003). Their Spirits Live within Us: Aboriginal Women in Downtown Eastside Vancouver Emerging into Visibility. American Indian Quarterly, 27(3/4), 593–606.

A brief description of the aboriginal peer navigators offered at VGH. Through a short referal system they can support indigenous patients during their inpatient stays. Reference: Vancouver Coastal Health. (2020). Indigenous Health—Vancouver Coastal Health. http://www.vch.ca/your-care/indigenous-health

Discussing a 2 day forum re: indigenous mental health in Canada. How mentla health issues and suicide rates are higher among this population due to socioeconomic and political inequalities after years of colonization and cultural genocide. Forum identifies priorities for further direction in indigenous mental health. Reference: Stephanie Montesanti, Kayla Fitzpatrick, Bryan Fayant, & Caillie Pritchard. (2022). Identifying priorities, directions and a vision for Indigenous mental health using a collaborative and consensus-based facilitation approach. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07682-3