TY - JOUR
AU - V. Smye
AU - A. J. Browne
AU - V. Josewski
AU - B. Keith
AU - W. Mussell
A1 - 
AB - In this paper, we present findings from a qualitative study that explored Indigenous people's experiences of mental health and addictions care in the context of an inner-city area in Western Canada. Using an ethnographic design, a total of 39 clients accessing 5 community-based mental health care agencies were interviewed, including 18 in-depth individual interviews and 4 focus groups. Health care providers also were interviewed (n = 24). Data analysis identified four intersecting themes: normalization of social suffering; re-creation of trauma; the challenge of reconciling constrained lives with harm reduction; and mitigating suffering through relational practice. The results highlight the complexities of experiences of accessing systems of care for Indigenous people marginalized by poverty and other forms of social inequity, and the potential harms that arise from inattention to the intersecting social context(s) of peoples' lives. Service delivery that aims to address the mental health concerns of Indigenous people must be designed with awareness of, and responsiveness to, the impact of structural violence and social suffering on peoples' lived realities. A relational policy and policy lens is key to alleviate patterns of social suffering and counter the harms that are unwittingly created when social suffering is normalized.
AD - Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.; School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada.; School of Nursing, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, Canada.; Consultant, Burnaby, BC V5H 4E8, Canada.; Sal'i'shan Institute, 800 Wellington Ave, Chilliwack, BC V2P 6H7, Canada.
AN - 36833982
BT - Int J Environ Res Public Health
C5 - Opioids & Substance Use; Healthcare Disparities
CP - 4
DA - Feb 13
DO - 10.3390/ijerph20043288
DP - NLM
ET - 20230213
IS - 4
JF - Int J Environ Res Public Health
LA - eng
N2 - In this paper, we present findings from a qualitative study that explored Indigenous people's experiences of mental health and addictions care in the context of an inner-city area in Western Canada. Using an ethnographic design, a total of 39 clients accessing 5 community-based mental health care agencies were interviewed, including 18 in-depth individual interviews and 4 focus groups. Health care providers also were interviewed (n = 24). Data analysis identified four intersecting themes: normalization of social suffering; re-creation of trauma; the challenge of reconciling constrained lives with harm reduction; and mitigating suffering through relational practice. The results highlight the complexities of experiences of accessing systems of care for Indigenous people marginalized by poverty and other forms of social inequity, and the potential harms that arise from inattention to the intersecting social context(s) of peoples' lives. Service delivery that aims to address the mental health concerns of Indigenous people must be designed with awareness of, and responsiveness to, the impact of structural violence and social suffering on peoples' lived realities. A relational policy and policy lens is key to alleviate patterns of social suffering and counter the harms that are unwittingly created when social suffering is normalized.
PY - 2023
SN - 1661-7827 (Print); 1660-4601
ST - Social Suffering: Indigenous Peoples' Experiences of Accessing Mental Health and Substance Use Services
T1 - Social Suffering: Indigenous Peoples' Experiences of Accessing Mental Health and Substance Use Services
T2 - Int J Environ Res Public Health
TI - Social Suffering: Indigenous Peoples' Experiences of Accessing Mental Health and Substance Use Services
U1 - Opioids & Substance Use; Healthcare Disparities
U3 - 10.3390/ijerph20043288
VL - 20
VO - 1661-7827 (Print); 1660-4601
Y1 - 2023
ER -