Preventing Mental Illness And Substance Abuse Found Among Canada 's First Nations Communities

When discussing the Aboriginal quality of life within Canada there are several issues that come to mind, such as health, education, housing and our Canadian-Indigenous relationship (First Ministers And National Aboriginal Leaders, 2005, p. 1). However, many times Canadians neglect to distinguish the root of the issue. While residential schools may be addressed and looked upon historically, the traumas and effects are still particularly palpable for many Indigenous communities. For this reason, it is significant for Canadians to be empathetic towards the underlying issues, for obstacles like Indigenous health to be properly handled. Within this essay, I create an awareness of the impacts of assimilation tactics to Aboriginal communities;

Racial inequality inside of Canadian prisons is shocking and sometimes unbelievable when taken into account the percentage a minority group takes up in Canada’s overall population versus behind bars. The injustices against Canada’s First Nations people are unfortunately not just historic, as their mistreatment is still evident today. Despite representing only 3% of the population, First Nations account for about 25% of the prison population in provincial/territorial facilities. More specifically, 31% of the female population, and 22% of the male population were First Nations in 2015. More than one in five admissions to men’s prisons are of Aboriginal descent, and one in three in women’s prisons. Although it can be said that more and more attention has been drawn to this issue by citizens and politicians alike recently, First Nations people continue to suffer from poverty, injustice, and a lack of opportunities compared to the average Canadian citizen. About one in four native children live in poverty, leading to criminal activity, and eventually

Health care for First Nations people, specifically for those who live in reserve communities receiving federally run services, has been founded on colonial ideology. This allowed and influenced the beginning of dependency of the First Nations people upon the European policy makers (Browne and Fiske 2001).

Homicides, sexual violence and violent crimes are particularly troubling for those on First Nations reserves. “Between 1997 and 2000, Aboriginal people were 10 times more likely to be accused of homicide than were non-Aboriginal people (11.2 accused persons per 100,000 Aboriginal population compared to 1.1 accused persons per 100,000 non-Aboriginal population). On-reserve crime rates in 2004 were about three times higher than rates in the rest of Canada (28,900 per 100,000 population on reserve compared to 8,500 per 100,000 population in the rest of Canada). The difference was even greater for violent crime, with an on-reserve rate that was eight times the violent crime rate of the rest of the country (7,108 compared to 953 per 100,000 population).(10)” Unrelenting violence on their home communities along with severe addictions issues, poverty and housing conditions are forcing First Nations to leave. It is also forcing members who are arrested with addictions issues into new communities where they have no connections or support systems.

The high proportion of First Nations children being taken away from the care of their families is a contemporary challenge that has been present and widespread in Canada for an alarming length of time, deriving from the oppressive breakdown of the tribal structure and family values that colonization created. Little progress has been made in addressing this situation and the number of children in case has been increasing with time as Rousseau found in 2015:

4. The main point of this article is that First Nations peoples along are often mistreated by the justice system in Canada.

The guest speaker Krystal Summers (2017) provided insight into the health and healing from an Indigenous worldview. This lecture presented me with the opportunity to enhance my understanding of the history and culture of Indigenous peoples in Canada through hearing Summers personal experiences. For social workers to be agents of change, they must seek to learn and understand Indigenous peoples cultural experiences and history with oppression (Mullaly, 2010). According to King, Smith, and Gracey (2009), they discovered that “indigenous health inequalities arise from general socioeconomic factors in combination with culturally and historically specific factors particular to the peoples affected” (p. 76). This point highlights one of the key ideas

Native Americans have long questioned the authenticity of non-native researchers and Social Workers alike. In sum, they just don’t trust them and for good reason. Because of this, it is not surprising that most of the studies and interventions conducted within the ingenious population are incomplete or inconsistent. Many of us have skeletons in our closets, as does the social work profession. Although the primary mission of the social work profession has a dual focus of meeting the wellbeing and needs of people in a societal context, that did not always apply to Native Americans. Because of these historical practices non-native mental health professionals and researchers are acknowledged with skepticism.

If you are suffering with depression, what would you do in order to “heal” yourself? The typical Canadian would suggest going to the doctor and being prescribed anti-depressants. Canadians believe clinical medicine can heal almost anyone and anything with the proper resources and knowledge. What if we are wrong? What if participation in traditional ceremonies and healing practices is what can heal anyone or anything? There are many indications that Indigenous ways of healing are efficient and beneficial. This leads to the history of how the western society stripped them of their rights to follow these traditions, and how that may have had a great impact on Indigenous people’s health spiraling downhill. Indigenous people are strong

It is very clear throughout this examination that the Attawapiskat First Nations are experiencing a health crisis that is in dire need of immediate action. The residents of this community cannot continue to live in these detrimental conditions without facing even further consequences to their physical, mental and spiritual health, and for future generations to come. Affordable housing, an increase in job opportunities, and a greater emphasis on education are all required to rebuild this community. This will allow the residents to regain control of their circumstances and live healthier and more prosperous lives. Despite the challenges that they have faced however, this community has remained positive and inspired by the outpouring of support

In Canada, our people of aboriginal descent are regularly stereotyped and viewed as second-class citizens who are “lesser” in many ways than the non-aboriginal people in social standing. This view leads people to continue to treat the indigenous very poorly. There are ways to try to repair these inaccuracies that non-aboriginal people believe, but it will take a concentrated effort for everyone to understand and work together.

Indigenous people are affected by a number of health inequalities that stem from social determinants. There is a direct proven link between the ill-health that Indigenous people have and are experiencing and the health inequalities they face as a result of these social determinants. These health inequalities are classified into three groups that consist of historical, political, social and economic contexts. Macro factors that consist of community infrastructure, resources, systems and capacities; as well as micro factors including health behaviours, physical and social environments. Social determinants effect an extensive array of health dimensions that lead to problematic health complications, health behaviours and poor health management. For instance, living in conditions of low income have been linked to increased illness and disability, which is linked to reduced opportunities to obtain and retain meaningful employment, thus exacerbating poverty (Maddison, 2009, p. 108). There is extensive research and studies that have found individuals and communities that experience disparities in the social determinants of health not only experience a burden of health problems, but they have limited access to resources that could potentially improve these problems (Reading & Wien, 2009, p. 9). How these social determinants impact and also effect on these areas of health for Indigenous people, which produces health problems that lead to conditions and environments that result in

World Health Organization (WHO) reported that globally 370 million individuals with an aboriginal identify existed in over 70 different countries. (October 2017). However, in Canada 1.4 million or over 4 percent of Canadians have an indigenous identity (Laura Aylswoth, Frank Trovato, 2012). In the meantime, Indigenous People are among Canada's most vulnerable citizens (Canadian Health Human Resources Network, November 2013). Despite the general vulnerability of aboriginal people, indigenous with disabilities are known as one of the most subjugated and isolated categories in Canada. (Raihanna Hirji-Khalfan, federal supports for aboriginal people with disabilities, 2009). The prevalence rate of disability is 31% (117100 adults)

“A new report suggests aboriginal Canadians frequently face racism and stereotyping when using health care services in urban centers, a situation which can breed a degree of mistrust deep enough for some to avoid seeking professional help when sick.” (Mehta, Tuesday, December 11)

The Indigenous peoples of Canada have suffered many repercussions of colonization that are still prominently reverberating through today’s society. The Aboriginal youth are suffering the consequences and are perpetuating the ongoing vicious cycle. The loss of culture and native language among the various Indigenous communities has had, and is continuing to have disastrous effects. The abundant abuse of alcohol and drugs, higher rates of suicide and homelessness, and the lower education levels are some of the main ways these youths are being affected. The Indigenous youth that are in foster care represent an even larger number of these people. These negatives continue to propagate the damaging and destructive stereotypes already in place while making it difficult for the Indigenous youth to break free of this cycle and obtain a better future.