From Embers to Flames: Identifying strategies of resilience and mental health among inner-city Aboriginal youth

Research Start-up Summary and Abstract:

Mental illness and social distress enact a significant toll on Canadian adolescent populations, yet are unevenly distributed throughout the country. Current estimates suggest that 15% of young Canadians between the ages of 14 and 24 cope with some form of anxiety, depression, addictions or other social distresses, while estimates among Aboriginal populations are twice the national average (35%), with addictions and suicide being five to six times the national average. Additionally, the Saskatchewan 2010/2011 Student Health Survey found that First Nations and Métis youth from low-income, inner-city neighborhoods of Saskatoon were significantly more likely (17.2%) than city averages to report poor mental health status, depressed mood symptoms, and suicide ideation in the past 12 months. These mental illness and addictions inequities signal a crucial need for focused research among Aboriginal youth.

Media coverage:
http://www.thinkupstream.net/emberstoflames

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/youth-resilience-artists-taking-over-cbc-sask-instagram-1.3343247

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/indigenous-youth-in-saskatoon-find-strength-in-photography-project-1.3334098

• Saskatoon’s Urban Aboriginal Identity Population (2011, NHS)

  9.3% (23,895) of Saskatoon’s population identifies as Aboriginal, 9.8% (25,350) report having Aboriginal ancestry.
• 49.2% are First Nation, 48.2% are Metis, less than 1% are Inuit and 2.2% report having multiple or other Aboriginal identities.