YorkSpace has migrated to a new version of its software. Access our Help Resources to learn how to use the refreshed site. Contact diginit@yorku.ca if you have any questions about the migration.
 

Exploring Resilience and Mental Health Among Canadian Inuit Youth: Understanding Wellness and Piloting a Prevention Program

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorBohr, Yvonne M.
dc.contributor.authorLitwin, Leah Hart
dc.date.accessioned2020-05-11T12:42:08Z
dc.date.available2020-05-11T12:42:08Z
dc.date.copyright2019-09
dc.date.issued2020-05-11
dc.date.updated2020-05-11T12:42:08Z
dc.degree.disciplinePsychology(Functional Area: Clinical-Developmental)
dc.degree.levelDoctoral
dc.degree.namePhD - Doctor of Philosophy
dc.description.abstractCanadian Inuit youth in Nunavut struggle with higher rates of depression and suicide in comparison to youth in other parts of the world, yet accessible mental health services are lacking in the territory. The current project was comprised of three studies. Study 1 examined the accessibility and effectiveness of an e-intervention program, SPARX. SPARX was developed in New Zealand in collaboration with Mori communities, with the goal of supporting Mori Indigenous youth in decreasing symptoms of depression and boosting resilience. A modified randomized control trial was used to evaluate the effectiveness of SPARX in Nunavut with 49 Canadian Inuit youth across 11 communities. Outcome measures assessing: 1) symptoms of depression; 2) symptoms of hopelessness; 3) cognitive emotion regulation strategies; and 4) resilience were assessed. T-test and Anova statistics suggested that participating Canadian Inuit youth experienced less hopelessness and enhanced cognitive emotion regulation strategies after engaging in SPARX. No statistical changes in depression or resilience were noted. Study 2 used focus groups to gain a qualitative understanding of Canadian Inuit youths experience with SPARX. Youth from Study 1 participated in the Study 2 focus groups. Focus groups were recorded and transcribed, and coded using inductive thematic analysis. Results suggested that youth found the intervention engaging and interactive, and though it aligned well with youth culture, there was a reported desire for a more culturally appropriate version of SPARX. Study 3 used focus groups, across four communities in Nunavut, to delve deeper into the understanding of mental health and mental illness among Canadian Inuit youth. Youth and Elders in four communities were recruited to participate in these focus groups. Focus groups were recorded and transcribed, and coded using inductive thematic analysis. By engaging Elders in conversations about Canadian Inuit history, traditions and current barriers to accessing mental health programs, youth were able to explore what wellness means, and how they believe they can better support their own, as well as their communitys wellness. Results suggest that youth and Elders alike desire a return to cultural roots in order to build capacity and harness wellness, as well as a need for more intergenerational communication between Elders and youth. Overall, the three studies comprising this project support the need for further understanding of mental health programming desired by Canadian Inuit communities. It will be important to harness the Canadian Inuit culture, and to create family and community-based programming to help support youth with their mental health needs. Breaking down stigma associated with accessing mental health support will be an important advancement for the promotion of wellness in Canadian Inuit communities.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10315/37384
dc.languageen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subjectMental health
dc.subject.keywordsClinical psychology
dc.subject.keywordsInuit
dc.subject.keywordsInuit mental health
dc.subject.keywordsE-intervention
dc.subject.keywordsOnline intervention
dc.subject.keywordsIndigenous mental health
dc.subject.keywordsCanadian Inuit mental health interventions
dc.subject.keywordsCultural adaptations to mental health programming
dc.subject.keywordsCultural adaptations
dc.subject.keywordsSPARX
dc.subject.keywordsComputer-based interventions
dc.subject.keywordsTwo-eyed seeing framework
dc.subject.keywordsCanadian indigenous communities
dc.subject.keywordsYouth mental health
dc.subject.keywordsQualitative research
dc.subject.keywordsEcological systems model
dc.subject.keywordsNunavut
dc.subject.keywordsMental health in Nunavut
dc.subject.keywordsSystemic discrepancy
dc.titleExploring Resilience and Mental Health Among Canadian Inuit Youth: Understanding Wellness and Piloting a Prevention Program
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Litwin_Leah_H_2019_PhD.pdf
Size:
2.99 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.83 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
YorkU_ETDlicense.txt
Size:
3.36 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download

Collections

Psychology (Functional Area: Clinical-Developmental)

All items in the YorkSpace institutional repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved except where explicitly noted.