Communities being well for family well-being: Exploring the socio-ecological determinants of well-being in an Inuit community of Northern Quebec

Abstract

Inuit communities of Canada experience many disparities in health and psychosocial context. Research in community psychology has shown associations between such socio-ecological factors and individual well-being. The objective of the study was to explore how community-level determinants of well-being influence family well-being in a northern community of Nunavik, Quebec. A total of 14 participants were interviewed. A thematic inductive analysis was conducted to extract community determinants of family well-being from the data. A system science approach was used to explore the associations between determinants and larger psychosocial dynamics. A community workshop was held to discuss the results and their meaning. A total of 25 determinants were coded, 16 of which were community-level. Community-level stressors were highly interrelated, whereas community supports were generally disconnected and superimposed on narratives of stressors. Participants spoke of desired supports. In their narratives, these supports were connected to a variety of determinants of well-being, suggesting the need to connect, redefine and support existing resources rather than simply add on new ones. We discuss intricate links between family and community well-being in small and geographically isolated communities.

Wellbeing of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the United States: A Systematic Review

“…Forty-three [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ] papers came from Canada; ‘Indigenous peoples in Canada’ is used to collectively report on the aspects of wellbeing as reported in the included papers for First Nations, Métis and Inuit [ 59 ].…”

“…Culture was reported as an important aspect of wellbeing for the Indigenous peoples in Canada by 33 papers [ 16 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 42 , 43 , 45 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 58 ]. Two key aspects of culture emerged as critical to wellbeing—identity as Indigenous peoples and the importance of one’s Indigenous language.…”

“…The importance of one’s Indigenous language, learning and knowing it, was reported by twelve papers [ 19 , 22 , 27 , 29 , 33 , 36 , 38 , 40 , 45 , 49 , 53 , 54 ]. Language was reported as fundamentally connected to culture, and language was regarded an important means for passing on, preserving and continuing culture, while also bringing a sense of pride, confidence and improved family, community and spiritual connections for the Indigenous peoples in Canada [ 19 , 22 , 28 , 29 , 38 , 40 , 45 , 49 , 53 , 54 , 55 ]. This is not to exclude those without access to language, as culture can and is passed down without it.…”

“…Family and community was reported by 31 papers as important to the wellbeing of the Indigenous peoples in Canada [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 39 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 57 ]. Community is broadly defined as those you have connections and communication with, and it is not limited by geographic location.…”

Exploring the potential roles of community-university partnerships in northern suicide prevention implementation research

“…Research on suicide in Inuit regions has focused largely on risk and protective factors associated with suicide [13,14], suicide trends over the past years [8,15], representations and experiences of mental health, wellbeing [16,17], and associations between suicidality and colonisation [2,18,19]. Much less work addresses suicide prevention and intervention for circumpolar regions.…”