Through our lens: Experiences of adult mental health service consumers in the Arrow Lakes Region of British Columbia

Abstract

In efforts to address and understand health and social inequities linked to rural residency contemporary health policies and discussions are becoming increasingly invested in including rural and remote health consumers' experiences in policy decisions (Bodor, 2009; Dyck & Hardy, 2013; Government of British Columbia, 2015; Ryan-Nicholls & Haggarty, 2007). This exploratory, text and image based qualitative research examined the experiences of six adult mental health service consumers living in the Arrow Lakes region, with the intent of creating a foundation for structural, consumer-driven shifts in health care policy and community mental health literacy, while simultaneously working to bridge the gap in literature on mental health in the Arrow Lakes. The findings from this project demonstrate the resiliency of six adults managing mental health in the Arrow Lakes through explorations of supports and challenges to maintaining wellness and visions for reform and developments in health and social services.