Centering Indigenous Voices to Inform the Delivery of Culturally-Appropriate Mental Wellness Services

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorKatrina, Milaney
dc.contributor.authorZaretsky, Lisa
dc.contributor.committeememberRoach, Pamela
dc.contributor.committeememberEl-Lahib, Yahya
dc.date2021-11
dc.date.accessioned2021-07-01T15:40:35Z
dc.date.available2021-07-01T15:40:35Z
dc.date.issued2021-06-28
dc.description.abstractColonization and ongoing colonial policies and practices have shaped a mental healthcare system rooted in racism. A systemic lack of awareness and response to the transhistorical impacts of colonization have resulted in the perpetuation of mental wellness services that are not culturally-appropriate. Utilizing an anti-colonial theoretical framework, the purpose of this study was to explore if Indigenous peoples were receiving mental wellness supports that were responsive to their needs. A storytelling methodology was used with five participants from permanent supportive housing (PSH) buildings to share their experiences of mental wellness including homelessness and alcohol use. The stories revealed profound resistance to ongoing colonization. Further analysis of stories identified the absence of available supports, cultural connection, and supportive staff relationships in PSH buildings. Together, these results suggest participants are not receiving mental wellness supports that are culturally-appropriate. Using the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action as a framework for change, agencies can actively work towards providing culturally-appropriate mental wellness supports by: 1) increasing the availability of supports; 2) ensuring access to culture and connection; 3) re-evaluating hiring policies; 4) providing ongoing training; and 5) transforming to relationship-based care. Ultimately, this shift towards anti-colonial mental wellness services will result in disrupting colonial systems, policies, and practices; however, without the leadership and self-determination of Indigenous peoples themselves, there will be no real change in the provision of culturally-appropriate services.en_US
dc.identifier.citationZaretsky, L. (2021). Centering Indigenous Voices to Inform the Delivery of Culturally-Appropriate Mental Wellness Services (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/38971
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/113573
dc.publisher.facultyCumming School of Medicineen_US
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.en_US
dc.subjectAnti-Colonialismen_US
dc.subjectDecolonizationen_US
dc.subjectIndigenousen_US
dc.subjectCalls to Actionen_US
dc.subjectMental Healthen_US
dc.subjectHomelessnessen_US
dc.subjectSystemic Racismen_US
dc.subjectColonizationen_US
dc.subjectStorytellingen_US
dc.subjectAlcohol Useen_US
dc.subjectSelf Determinationen_US
dc.subject.classificationEducation--Healthen_US
dc.subject.classificationEducation--Social Sciencesen_US
dc.subject.classificationMental Healthen_US
dc.titleCentering Indigenous Voices to Inform the Delivery of Culturally-Appropriate Mental Wellness Servicesen_US
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineMedicine – Community Health Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgaryen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (MSc)en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrueen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
ucalgary_2021_zaretsky_lisa.pdf
Size:
854.76 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
2.62 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Open Theses and Dissertations