Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

First Nation communities across Canada differ in their levels of access to social determinants of health such as employment opportunities, recreational activities, geographical location, and cultural activities. Due to this differential availability, an integral aspect of developing culturally appropriate interventions for First Nations children and youth is identifying and responding to specific contextual needs within communities. The First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework (Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, 2015) outlines mental wellness as being expressed through an individual's hope for their future and their family's future (through identity, values, and spirit), a sense of belonging (e.g. to family, community, culture), a sense of meaning (as part of creation/history), and purpose in their daily lives (e.g. employment, care-giving, etc.). This poster analyses community based mental health needs from 177 children and youth (aged 0-17) in relation to the Mental Wellness Continuum Framework. When children demonstrated greater levels of daily functioning (in domains such as family and peer relationships, cultural stress, and self-care), anxiety, mood, and emotional regulation needs were lower. Lower mood, anxiety symptoms, and adjustment to trauma difficulties were demonstrated when children had greater levels of individual strengths in areas such as community involvement, optimism, interpersonal relationships, and talents or interests. Overall, these findings provide preliminary empirical support for the Mental Wellness Continuum Framework.