Grant: Fellowship - PA: Mixed Methods Approach in Aboriginal Research

Mental illness and distress enact a significant toll on Canadian children and youth, yet are unevenly distributed throughout the country. Current estimates suggest that 15% of young Canadians between the ages of 10 and 19 cope with anxiety, depression, addictions or other disorders, 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 children and youth from low-income, inner-city neighbourhoods 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 children and youth. The operating principle behind this study is that the resources, knowledge, and capabilities required to address the mental illness and addictions inequalities of Aboriginal children and youth are already present within inner-city contexts and young people themselves. Hidden resources of resilience represent small embers that can, through the intervention of informed strategies, be fanned into flames. These resources need to be identified for the benefit of this population. A mixed-methods approach will be employed. The Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-28) will be administered to quantitatively identify sources of stress, risk, and resilience. Qualitative stories will also be generated from the most resilient children and youth to determine their successful coping strategies. The results of this research will identify sources of resilience and positive mental health strategies that can inform early intervention theory and policy to promote the mental health and wellness of Aboriginal children and youth in Saskatoon and other Canadian urban contexts.