Data
Aboriginal peoples are the descendants of the original inhabitants of North America and the Canadian Constitution recognized three groups of Aboriginal people– Indians, Metis, and Inuit. The total population of Aboriginal people in Canada is approximately 1.5 million with the Indians (now refereed to as First Nations) being 57%, the Metis 33% and the Inuit about 10% of the total population of Aboriginal people. (National Aboriginal Health Organization 2003) According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), an estimated 18% of the Aboriginal population meet the criteria for clinical depression compared to non-aboriginals which are estimated at 8.2% (PHAC 2011)
According to standard scales used on Statistics Canada surveys in 2001, 12% of First Nations and 3.1% of Inuit suffered a major depressive episode and 6.4% were at high risk of depression. (Statistics Canada …show more content…
(PHAC, 2011) In addition, the people affected were more likely than other Canadians to find that the depression interfered appreciably with their activities.
In Alberta, a survey was carried out to assess the prevalence of burden of depression based on the number of doctor’s visits. Results showed that the First Nations people were 1.4 times more likely than other residents to see a doctor for depression. (PHAC 2011). See Appendix
Factors Affecting Mental Health Among Aboriginal People
The major factors that have shown to affect the mental health of the aboriginal people point back to their historical, social and cultural pasts. These indicators may vary across provinces but overall share common causal roots. Common risk factors include:
• History of Colonization
• Acculturation and Loss of family values
• Residential Schools and the Sixties scoop
• Family violence
• Sexual Abuse and Assault
• Socio-economic
Aboriginal peoples are the descendants of the original inhabitants of North America and the Canadian Constitution recognized three groups of Aboriginal people– Indians, Metis, and Inuit. The total population of Aboriginal people in Canada is approximately 1.5 million with the Indians (now refereed to as First Nations) being 57%, the Metis 33% and the Inuit about 10% of the total population of Aboriginal people. (National Aboriginal Health Organization 2003) According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), an estimated 18% of the Aboriginal population meet the criteria for clinical depression compared to non-aboriginals which are estimated at 8.2% (PHAC 2011)
According to standard scales used on Statistics Canada surveys in 2001, 12% of First Nations and 3.1% of Inuit suffered a major depressive episode and 6.4% were at high risk of depression. (Statistics Canada …show more content…
(PHAC, 2011) In addition, the people affected were more likely than other Canadians to find that the depression interfered appreciably with their activities.
In Alberta, a survey was carried out to assess the prevalence of burden of depression based on the number of doctor’s visits. Results showed that the First Nations people were 1.4 times more likely than other residents to see a doctor for depression. (PHAC 2011). See Appendix
Factors Affecting Mental Health Among Aboriginal People
The major factors that have shown to affect the mental health of the aboriginal people point back to their historical, social and cultural pasts. These indicators may vary across provinces but overall share common causal roots. Common risk factors include:
• History of Colonization
• Acculturation and Loss of family values
• Residential Schools and the Sixties scoop
• Family violence
• Sexual Abuse and Assault
• Socio-economic