Well-being and environmental change in the arctic: a synthesis of selected research from Canada’s International Polar Year program

Parlee, Brenda; Furgal, Chris

doi:10.1007/s10584-012-0588-0

Cited by 46 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 50 publications

(40 reference statements)

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“…Indigenous youth in the Circumpolar North are influenced by these broad spatial and historical processes which shape their experience of and response to social, spiritual, physical, cultural, political, economic, and environmental stressors and transformations (6, 12, 13, 21, 26). Consequently, it is crucial to create the opportunities and environments where youth can successfully and positively navigate challenges and enhance and expand their resilience and adaptive capacities – all of which could help to foster healthy, thriving Circumpolar communities.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of protective factors and causal mechanisms that enhance the mental health of Indigenous Circumpolar youth

Macdonald

Ford

Willox

et al. 2013

International Journal of Circumpolar Health

107

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ObjectivesTo review the protective factors and causal mechanisms which promote and enhance Indigenous youth mental health in the Circumpolar North.Study designA systematic literature review of peer-reviewed English-language research was conducted to systematically examine the protective factors and causal mechanisms which promote and enhance Indigenous youth mental health in the Circumpolar North.MethodsThis review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, with elements of a realist review. From 160 records identified in the initial search of 3 databases, 15 met the inclusion criteria and were retained for full review. Data were extracted using a codebook to organize and synthesize relevant information from the articles.ResultsMore than 40 protective factors at the individual, family, and community levels were identified as enhancing Indigenous youth mental health. These included practicing and holding traditional knowledge and skills, the desire to be useful and to contribute meaningfully to one's community, having positive role models, and believing in one's self. Broadly, protective factors at the family and community levels were identified as positively creating and impacting one's social environment, which interacts with factors at the individual level to enhance resilience. An emphasis on the roles of cultural and land-based activities, history, and language, as well as on the importance of social and family supports, also emerged throughout the literature.More than 40 protective factors at the individual, family, and community levels were identified as enhancing Indigenous youth mental health. These included practicing and holding traditional knowledge and skills, the desire to be useful and to contribute meaningfully to one's community, having positive role models, and believing in one's self. Broadly, protective factors at the family and community levels were identified as positively creating and impacting one's social environment, which interacts with factors at the individual level to enhance resilience. An emphasis on the roles of cultural and land-based activities, history, and language, as well as on the importance of social and family supports, also emerged throughout the literature.ConclusionsHealthy communities and families foster and support youth who are resilient to mental health challenges and able to adapt and cope with multiple stressors, be they social, economic, or environmental. Creating opportunities and environments where youth can successfully navigate challenges and enhance their resilience can in turn contribute to fostering healthy Circumpolar communities. Looking at the role of new social media in the way youth communicate and interact is one way of understanding how to create such opportunities. Youth perspectives of mental health programmes are crucial to developing appropriate mental health support and meaningful engagement of youth can inform locally appropriate and culturally relevant mental health resources, programm...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of protective factors and causal mechanisms that enhance the mental health of Indigenous Circumpolar youth

Macdonald

Ford

Willox

et al. 2013

International Journal of Circumpolar Health

107

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…1 The burden of injury and trauma disproportionately affects socially marginalized populations, [2][3][4] and Indigenous populations in the Arctic have been identified as being particularly susceptible given social and environmental contexts. [5][6][7] Mortality rates of unintentional injury in the Inuit territory of Nunavut, for example, are more than twice the national average, and potential years of life lost (2,763 per 100,000) more than three-times the national average. 8,9 Climate change may further amplify injury rates in the Canadian Arctic, given the strong relationship between Inuit and the land for culturally-valued harvesting activities and transport between communities on semi-permanent ice and land-based trails.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of environmental factors in search and rescue incidents in Nunavut, Canada

et al. 2016

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Objectives: Unintentional injury is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Nunavut, where the importance of land-based activities and reliance on semi-permanent trails creates unique risk profiles. Climate change is believed to be exacerbating these risks, although no studies have quantitatively examined links between environmental conditions and injury and distress in the Canadian Arctic. We examine the correlation between environmental conditions and land-based search and rescue (SAR) incidents across Nunavut. Study design: Case studyMethods: Case data was acquired from the Canadian National Search and Rescue Secretariat. Gasoline sales from across the territory are then used to model land-use and exposure. We compare weather and ice conditions during 202 SAR incidents to conditions during 755 non-SAR days (controls) between 2013 and 2014.Results: We show daily ambient temperature, ice concentration, ice thickness, and variation in types of ice to be correlated with SAR rates across the territory during the study period.Conclusions: These conditions are projected to be affected by future climate change, which could increase demand for SAR and increased injury rates in absence of targeted efforts aimed at prevention and treatment. This study provides health practitioners and public health communities with clearer understanding to prepare, respond to, and prevent injuries across the Arctic.

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“…This complex issue is therefore best understood from a perspective that takes a wide view of agency, including not only diverse municipal and high-level governmental structures, but also community values and practices. Community-based data collection approaches are adapted from well-established literatures on community health and well-being (e.g., Srinivasan, O'Fallon, & Dearry, 2003;Parlee & Furgal, 2012) and ecohealth (Charron, 2012). It is especially relevant in the context of northern and Indigenous communities, where governance systems and cultural practices may not conform with external structural paradigms (Zagozewski, Judd-Henrey, Nilson, & Bharadwaj, 2011).…”

Section: Qualitative Methodologies: Community-based Participatory Resmentioning

confidence: 99%

Waste Management in Labrador and Northern Communities: Opportunities and Challenges

Keske

Mills

Tanguay

et al. 2018

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This ar cle discusses the origin and management of waste in two Labrador communi es, Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Nain, and results from the qualita ve phase of a two-stage mixed methods research study. Results illuminate challenges and opportuni es associated with waste management in northern communi es. Like many regions across the Canadian North, the principal study area consists of a popula on centre surrounded by diff use, rural, and Indigenous communi es, mul ple land uses, and complex governance considera ons. We iden fy factors contribu ng to the accrual, management, and transport of solid waste in Labrador related to historical and ongoing colonialism. Among the considera ons are military development and mobile labour forces that generate both industrial and household waste. A combina on of remoteness and climate makes waste collec on, storage, and transport costly and slows organic waste decomposi on. Corrosion from municipally treated water generates excessive appliance waste. Limited local food produc on and remoteness from manufacturing and retail centres increases the consump on of disposable shipping materials. Despite these challenges, it is essen al to simultaneously recognize the eff orts of local grassroots ini a ves to eff ectuate sustainable waste management. We conclude that communi es may benefi t from implemen ng synergis c waste management strategies to reduce costs and public health risks, and to concurrently recognize the prac cali es of waste management in the North. Results of the qualita ve research phase led to the selec on of a priority waste stream, black spruce biomass cleared for the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric dam project, for an economic study in the project's quan ta ve research phase.h ps://doi

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Well-being and environmental change in the arctic: a synthesis of selected research from Canada’s International Polar Year program

Cited by 46 publications

References 50 publications

A review of protective factors and causal mechanisms that enhance the mental health of Indigenous Circumpolar youth

A review of protective factors and causal mechanisms that enhance the mental health of Indigenous Circumpolar youth

The role of environmental factors in search and rescue incidents in Nunavut, Canada

Waste Management in Labrador and Northern Communities: Opportunities and Challenges

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