Are you looking at my madness? Examining Canadian-Caribbean youth's intergenerational stories of mental health

This study investigated resources used by Canadian-Caribbean youth to define and respond to mental health and mental illness; as well, the study examined the effects that culture, history, and intergenerational knowledge have on the mental health definitions of the participants. The study used Narrative Inquiry as the methodological approach to investigate the stories of 12 young people between 18-25 years old who are grandchildren of Caribbean women who migrated to Canada under the West Indian Domestic Workers Scheme. This generation of participants was important to focus on because it allowed the researcher to collaborate or dispute the well-documented notions of strength associated with the former domestic workers. The study examined the interconnection between notions of strength and mental health in the experiences of these young people; as well, it looked at the tools that these young people use to negotiate mental health and mental health care.

Data from the study indicates that there are multiple factors that shape the definition and experiences of mental health among youth of Caribbean heritage. Participants narratives indicate that the language used to talk about and address mental health or madness draws from the history of indentured labour, slavery, colonialism, and the West Indian Domestic Workers Scheme. Similarly, participants narratives show that this history has been passed on from one generation to another. Some narratives highlight what it means to demonstrate strength and to rely on the migration survival story and prayer in order to deal with mental health issues. Other narratives show how Black masculine identities are simultaneously reinforced while being redesigned through the use of the mad gaze. These narratives contribute to a wider discussion surrounding mental health and mental healthcare in Canada.