Sociocultural factors in relation to mental health within the Inuit population of Nunavik

• Published in: Canadian journal of public health 2024-01, Vol.115 (Suppl 1), p.83-95
• Main Authors: Poliakova, Natalia, Riva, Mylene, Fletcher, Christopher, Desrochers-Couture, Mireille, Courtemanche, Yohann, Moisan, Caroline, Fraser, Sarah, Pépin, Camille, Bélanger, Richard E., Muckle, Gina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attention; Cohesion; Community; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cultural identity; Culture; Epidemiology; Family cohesion; Fishing; Health Surveys; Humans; Hunting; Indicators; Inuit; Inuit - psychology; Measures; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Mental Health; Mental health services; Psychological distress; Psychological stress; Public Health; Risk Factors; Social interactions; Social support; Sociocultural factors; Special Issue on the Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Nunavik Inuit Health Survey: Original; Special Issue on the Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Nunavik Inuit Health Survey: Original Article; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide; Suicides & suicide attempts
• ISSN: 0008-4263; 1920-7476; 1920-7476
• DOI: 10.17269/s41997-022-00705-w

Objective Built on the Inuit determinants approach of health, this study aimed to identify sociocultural factors associated with mental health among Inuit of Nunavik to guide programs and services. Methods The data were collected through the Qanuilirpitaa? 2017, a survey characterized by the involvement of several Inuit representatives. Depressive symptoms (10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale, CES-D), lifetime suicide ideation and attempts, and past-year ideation were self-reported mental health indicators. Sociocultural factors represented four thematic domains: social support, community activities, traditional practices, and cultural identity. Analyses tested whether the sociocultural factors were associated with indicators of mental health using weighted multivariate regressions. Results Among the sociocultural factors considered, family cohesion and weekly hunting/fishing activities were associated with lower depression scores. Community cohesion and lower cultural identity (centrality scale) were associated with a lower likelihood of past-year and lifetime ideation while family cohesion was related to a lower likelihood of lifetime attempts. People with psychological distress (higher CES-D, suicidal ideation or attempts) were more likely to participate in healing and wellness activities. Conclusion Although limited by their cross-sectional character, these analyses, based on the community component of the Qanuilirpitaa? , suggest that strengthening of family and community cohesion, and support of regular hunting and fishing deserve further attention as potential cumulative preventive avenues for Inuit mental health.