Grant: Catalyst Grant: Cannabis and Mental Health - Priority populations

Previous studies have demonstrated a relationship between cannabis use and mental illness. However, we do not know if cannabis makes people more likely to suffer from mental illness, or, if people with mental illness are more likely to use cannabis to manage their symptoms (which came first, cannabis use or mental illness?). This relationship is especially nuanced within adolescents and young adults, particularly those who identify as racialized, are Indigenous, and/or are LGBTQ2S+. To understand this relationship, we are proposing an intensive qualitative study looking at the experiences of marginalized youth in the Ottawa area. Through Photovoice and duoethnographic dialogues, we aim to understand the lived experiences of young adults with mental illness and the role of cannabis in managing their mental health daily. These methods aim to elicit explanatory models of substance use and illness that reflect situational experiences with mental health and cannabis use. These situational, and dialogue-based experiences are often ignored from mainstream research, however, contain information about important environmental and contextual factors necessary to engage with for meaningful public health research, especially among marginalized populations. We hope to evaluate trends in the use of cannabis and mental health in a safe and supportive community setting where youth participants are encouraged to focus on both positive and negative experiences with cannabis in a forum that does not promote or vilify its use. We aim to co-create policy briefs based on the study data and disseminate this information to local stakeholders, including our community-based partners. We also hope to position these youth participants as knowledge-holders and experts of their own experiences, supporting them through the Photovoice and duoethnography process while also giving them credit as researchers in all created materials.