Psychiatric consultation in the eastern Canadian Arctic: III. Mental health issues in Inuit women in the eastern Arctic.

This report describes mental health issues affecting Inuit women as seen in psychiatric consultation. Recent public and governmental attention has focused on the emotional and behavioural sequelae of rapid cultural change, spousal assault and sexual violence. The process of psychiatric consultant with the Inuit woman patient will be described. The need for innovative, community-based treatment strategies in this population will be emphasized.