Grant: Project Grant

First Nations people have shown considerable strengths and resilience despite experiences of significant trauma and stress due to the effects of colonization. The primary goal of this research is to use a strengths-based approach to evaluate how and for whom strengths and resilience resources mitigate the negative health impacts of trauma and stress on mental health and substance use challenges. We propose to conduct analyses of rich qualitative and quantitative data previously collected in two Ontario First Nations, supplemented with additional qualitative data. First, in-depth interviews as well as Photovoice data (i.e., photographs and corresponding narratives) from individuals who have lived experience with mental health and substance use challenges, will be analyzed to illuminate how strengths and resilience resources affect the process of recovery. Second, informed by findings from the qualitative analyses, quantitative analyses of general population survey data will identify unique patterns in the use of different sources of strength/resilience. We will also determine how strengths and resilience resources such as cultural identity and community strengths buffer the impact of trauma and stress on mental health and substance use outcomes. Together with community partners, we will integrate and synthesize the findings and develop key recommendations for strengths based programming. By integrating both qualitative and quantitative data, and partnering closely with community stakeholders in the analysis and interpretation of these data, this initiative will derive a deeper understanding of strengths and resilience resources and how they can be enhanced and reinforced to address mental health and substance use challenges in First Nations communities.