Lee Cerina, Wozniak Lisa A, Soprovich Allison L, Sharma Vishal, Healy Bonnie, Samanani Salim, Eurich Dean T
School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 2-040 Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation 11203-87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada.
Blackfoot Confederacy, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Int J Ment Health Syst. 2022 Apr 29;16(1):22. doi: 10.1186/s13033-022-00532-z.
First Nations (FN) people of Canada experience health, social, and systemic inequities due to colonization. Consequently, COVID-19 has placed further mental health stress on people related to personal finances, employment security and worry over infection, resulting in exacerbated effects of unresolved past medical and physical traumas. This study aims to understand the experiences related to mental health in an Alberta FN community during the early stages of the pandemic.
In partnership with FN leadership, the study implemented an online cross-sectional survey. Adults from a large FN community in Alberta, Canada, were asked to complete a survey, including two mental health-related screening questionnaires: (1) Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 item; and (2) Patient Health Questionnaire-2 item. In addition, respondents could provide responses to open-ended questions about their experiences.
Among 106 respondents, 95 (89.6%) finished the survey; 18% of adults screened positive for depressive symptoms (score of 3 or greater) and reported difficulty following public health advice for using hand sanitizer, maintaining social distancing, or self-isolating. 21% of adults screened positive for symptoms of anxiety (score of 3 or greater) and reported difficulty maintaining social distance, self-isolating, obtaining food and clothing, or meeting other basic living requirements.
FN communities may be disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and may experience exacerbated symptoms of anxiety, depression and overall poor mental health and well-being. Additional supports and services, including for mental health, should be considered for FN in the context of COVID-19 public health measures.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon increased stress and accompanying symptoms of anxiety and depression for a First Nations community in Alberta. Studies, such as this one, that characterize the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among First Nations people, are urgently needed because of increasing demands on healthcare systems due to the pandemic and potential delays in the care of patients living with pre-existing mental health conditions. There is an opportunity to capitalize on First Nations people's experiences of post-traumatic growth proactively supporting/maintaining their well-being and possibly the development of community-based mental health interventions and supports.
由于殖民统治，加拿大的原住民（FN）在健康、社会和制度方面面临不平等。因此，新冠疫情给人们带来了更多与个人财务、就业安全以及对感染的担忧相关的心理健康压力，导致过去未解决的医疗和身体创伤产生更严重的影响。本研究旨在了解疫情早期艾伯塔省一个原住民社区与心理健康相关的经历。
该研究与原住民领导层合作，开展了一项在线横断面调查。来自加拿大艾伯塔省一个大型原住民社区的成年人被要求完成一项调查，包括两份与心理健康相关的筛查问卷：（1）广泛性焦虑障碍2项问卷；（2）患者健康问卷2项问卷。此外，受访者可以就他们的经历回答开放式问题。
在106名受访者中，95人（89.6%）完成了调查；18%的成年人抑郁症状筛查呈阳性（得分3分或更高），并报告在遵循使用洗手液、保持社交距离或自我隔离的公共卫生建议方面存在困难。21%的成年人焦虑症状筛查呈阳性（得分3分或更高），并报告在保持社交距离、自我隔离、获取食物和衣物或满足其他基本生活需求方面存在困难。
原住民社区可能受到新冠疫情的影响尤为严重，并可能出现焦虑、抑郁症状加剧以及整体心理健康和幸福感较差的情况。在新冠疫情公共卫生措施的背景下，应考虑为原住民提供更多支持和服务，包括心理健康方面的支持和服务。
新冠疫情给艾伯塔省的一个原住民社区带来了更大的压力以及随之而来的焦虑和抑郁症状。由于疫情对医疗系统的需求增加以及患有既往心理健康问题的患者可能出现护理延迟，迫切需要开展此类研究，以描述新冠疫情对原住民心理健康的影响。有机会利用原住民的创伤后成长经历，积极支持/维持他们的幸福感，并可能开发基于社区的心理健康干预措施和支持。
