Mental Health in Aboriginal Youth: A Strategic Solution Aimed at Prevention
Mental health in the Aboriginal (AB) youth population is a compelling issue that is becoming increasingly more prevalent and recognized nationally. As a result of “loss of traditional cultural and family supports” (Dewit, p. 2, 2016) AB youth are lacking the necessary social support systems that contribute to a sense of belonging. In order to decrease the prevalence of mental illness among this population an upstream approach needs to be implemented that focuses on mental illness prevention.
Priority Setting
In regards to mental health in the AB youth population I feel that the most appropriate health priority is to further develop AB youths social support networks …show more content…
An upstream approach such as tackling the issue of poor social support networks for these youth in an environment such as school will create a population that is interconnected with not only people from their own culture but also from varying individuals throughout their community. This aligns with one of the Public Health Agency’s goals to ensure that “each and every person has dignity, a sense of belonging, and contributes to supportive families, friendships and diverse communities” (PHAC, 2006). Overall, strengthening this determinant of health can reduce health inequities such as the prevalence of mental health around AB youth by lowering risk factors that contribute to mental …show more content…
Although this seems like a barrier, the Canadian Mental Health Association has created a program called Connecting the Dots that for three years has been working on connecting community partners to help tackle the issue of mental health in AB youth (CMHA, 2016). They are tackling this issue by using a public health approach to “measure risk and protective factors impacting mental health, implement effective programming, evaluate outcomes, and advocate for policy change” (CMHA, p. 2, 2016) within specific communities, currently across British Columbia. This involvement with community members is an upstream approach that helps the reduce the risk factors of developing mental illness as well as bringing the issue to light with the community to create a more understanding relationship between youth and community members. This in turn creates more community involvement among youth, which as the Canadian Medical Association Journal (2015) states is lacking in many AB youths lives. Strengthening of community action through advocating for programs and policy change is a great step towards my health priority, however I believe creating supportive environments is also an appropriate action (Hamilton & Bhatti, 1996). Creating supportive environments through effective programming will provide these youth with a space to involve themselves in social support networks that ultimately lower
Mental health in the Aboriginal (AB) youth population is a compelling issue that is becoming increasingly more prevalent and recognized nationally. As a result of “loss of traditional cultural and family supports” (Dewit, p. 2, 2016) AB youth are lacking the necessary social support systems that contribute to a sense of belonging. In order to decrease the prevalence of mental illness among this population an upstream approach needs to be implemented that focuses on mental illness prevention.
Priority Setting
In regards to mental health in the AB youth population I feel that the most appropriate health priority is to further develop AB youths social support networks …show more content…
An upstream approach such as tackling the issue of poor social support networks for these youth in an environment such as school will create a population that is interconnected with not only people from their own culture but also from varying individuals throughout their community. This aligns with one of the Public Health Agency’s goals to ensure that “each and every person has dignity, a sense of belonging, and contributes to supportive families, friendships and diverse communities” (PHAC, 2006). Overall, strengthening this determinant of health can reduce health inequities such as the prevalence of mental health around AB youth by lowering risk factors that contribute to mental …show more content…
Although this seems like a barrier, the Canadian Mental Health Association has created a program called Connecting the Dots that for three years has been working on connecting community partners to help tackle the issue of mental health in AB youth (CMHA, 2016). They are tackling this issue by using a public health approach to “measure risk and protective factors impacting mental health, implement effective programming, evaluate outcomes, and advocate for policy change” (CMHA, p. 2, 2016) within specific communities, currently across British Columbia. This involvement with community members is an upstream approach that helps the reduce the risk factors of developing mental illness as well as bringing the issue to light with the community to create a more understanding relationship between youth and community members. This in turn creates more community involvement among youth, which as the Canadian Medical Association Journal (2015) states is lacking in many AB youths lives. Strengthening of community action through advocating for programs and policy change is a great step towards my health priority, however I believe creating supportive environments is also an appropriate action (Hamilton & Bhatti, 1996). Creating supportive environments through effective programming will provide these youth with a space to involve themselves in social support networks that ultimately lower