Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Indigenous populations in Canada are at higher risk of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs; e.g., abuse, neglect, or other household challenges before the age of 18) when compared to non-Indigenous populations. As the number of ACEs increase, so do rates of substance use and associated difficulties. In non-Indigenous populations, the presence of prior suicide-related behaviours (SRBs) signals a need for higher intensity services within substance use treatment. Thus, examining the relationships between SRBs, ACEs, and substance use within Indigenous populations in Canada could have direct implications for substance use treatment planning. We will review previous literature to develop and/or adapt a SRB risk assessment measure that ensures cultural relevance and representativeness. This SRB measure will then be incorporated into a community-based participatory research program, which is currently ongoing at an adult residential substance use treatment facility for Indigenous people. Clients with longstanding mental health and addictions difficulties will be invited to complete two surveys during their five-week culturally-informed treatment program. The first survey at the beginning of the program will measure substance use and SRBs, and the second survey at the midpoint in the program will measure ACEs. After roughly 14 cycles of the treatment program, we will examine how clients SRBs and ACEs predict substance use severity. This research will improve clinical understandings of SRB symptomatology and will guide the selection of treatment options based on SRB severity. More broadly, this research will also provide a more robust empirical base for culturally-informed clinical treatments for Indigenous people in Canada navigating issues related to substance use.