Indigenous and non‐Indigenous parents separated from their children and experiencing homelessness and mental illness in Canada

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the parent-child experiences of Indigenous and non-Indigenous mothers and fathers experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and separation from their children. A qualitative thematic analysis of baseline and 18-month follow-up narrative interviews was used to compare 12 mothers (n = 8 Indigenous and n = 4 nonindigenous) with 24 fathers (n = 13 Indigenous and n = 11 non-Indigenous). First, it was found that children are more central in the lives of mothers than fathers. Second, Indigenous parents' narratives were characterized by interpersonal and systemic violence, racism and trauma, and cultural disconnection, but also more cultural healing resources. Third, an intersectional analysis showed that children were peripheral in the lives of non-Indigenous fathers, and most central to the identities of Indigenous mothers. Gender identity, Indigenous, and intersectional theories are used to interpret the findings. Implications for future theory, research, and culturally relevant intervention are discussed.

A national-level examination of First Nations peoples’ mental health data: Predicting mental well-being from social determinants of health using the 2017 Aboriginal Peoples Survey

“…A study summarizing the experiences of individuals experiencing houselessness also found that Indigenous participants described narrative identities filled with stories of racism, historical trauma, and disconnection from one's culture(s), while those of non-Indigenous participants (specified in this study as White Canadian or European) (66) did not. These results indicated again that access to housing alone may not be enough to see similar improvements in mental health outcomes across populations-access to methods of cultural healing and reclamation will be required as well (66). Finally, one study found that gaps in suicide-related behaviors between Indigenous populations living off-reserve and non-Indigenous populations in Canada were largely due to differences in the effects of unobserved determinants (i.e., not socioeconomic factors such as income and employment which had been included in the analytical model) (67).…”

Parent–child relationship outcomes in a randomized controlled trial of housing first for indigenous and non-Indigenous parents experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and separation from their children.

“…Despite the centrality of children in Indigenous families and communities, and the alarming overrepresentation of Indigenous family separation due to systemic violence, we know little about the parent-child outcomes of housing and service interventions with Indigenous parents who have been separated from their children and experiencing homelessness in Canada. A recent HF study (Caplan et al, 2020) with Indigenous and non-Indigenous parents who had been separated from their children and experiencing homelessness and mental illness in Canada showed that:…”

“…Despite the centrality of children in Indigenous families and communities, and the alarming overrepresentation of Indigenous family separation due to systemic violence, we know little about the parent–child outcomes of housing and service interventions with Indigenous parents who have been separated from their children and experiencing homelessness in Canada. A recent HF study (Caplan et al, 2020) with Indigenous and non-Indigenous parents who had been separated from their children and experiencing homelessness and mental illness in Canada showed that:Despite the systematic program to disconnect Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island from their relationships and land—and in spite of experiencing pervasive interpersonal violence and racism—relationships, family support, and cultural healing were central to the recovery and healing experiences of Indigenous parents. Indigenous parents described engaging in cultural practices of traditional healing circles and ceremony, sweats, and powwows; culturally relevant programs; relationships with elders, cultural healers, family, community, and language; (re)connections with nature, animals, and land; (re)connections with parenting knowledge; and holistic worldviews of wellness that balance mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being (Hartmann & Gone, 2012).…”

“…Yet, little is known about the parent-child relationship outcomes of interventions for parents experiencing homelessness and mental illness. Furthermore, housing intervention research with Indigenous parents who experience homelessness and mental illness is lacking-with few exceptions (e.g., Caplan et al, 2020)-despite the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the Canadian homeless population (Patrick, 2014). The purpose of this research is to compare parent-child relationship outcomes of a HF intervention for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous parents who experienced homelessness, mental illness, and separation from their children.…”

Developing Community Resilience through Grassroot Initiatives: Comparing Culturally Adapted Substance Use Prevention Programs Directed towards Indigenous Youth in Canada

“…The low engagement of resources and high prevalence of mental health and substance use problems in these minority communities results in Indigenous parents often also being affected by addiction, mental illness, homelessness, interpersonal and systemic violence, racism and trauma, and separation from their children (Caplan et al, 2020). This in turn can contribute to ambivalent or insecure attachment with their children (Howard et al, 2011;Feizi et al, 2019), which has been linked to anxiety and depressive disorders in adolescence (Lee et al, 2009).…”