Exploring coping strategies and mental health support systems among female youth in the Northwest Territories using body mapping

ABSTRACT

The mental health of young women in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada, is a critical public health concern; however, there is a dearth of research that examines how this population manages mental health challenges. This study explores the self-identified strategies that female youth in the NWT use to cope with mental health issues. The arts-based qualitative method of body mapping and a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach grounded in social ecological theory was used to collect data during in-depth semi-structured interviews. Forty-one participants (aged 13–17 years) attended FOXY body mapping workshops in six NWT communities in 2013 then completed interviews regarding the content of their body maps. Thematic analysis was used to identify five themes related to coping strategies: grounding via nature, strength through Indigenous cultures, connection with God and Christian beliefs, expression using the arts, and relationships with social supports. These results can be used to develop culturally relevant, strengths-based, trauma informed interventions that improve coping and resiliency among Northern youth.

KEYWORDS:

• Body mapping
• Indigenous populations
• intervention research
• mental health
• Northwest Territories
• youth
• qualitative methods

Acknowledgements

A heartfelt thank you to all the young women who shared their experiences for this study. Many others supported the lead researcher and this project through its various stages, including: Dionne Gesink, Carol Strike, June Larkin, Carmen Logie, Gwen Healey, Nancy MacNeill, Kayley Mackay, Julie and Kevin Lys, Hiedi Yardley, Jane (Sétsune) Dragon, Aline LaFlamme, Shira Taylor, Jessica Dutton, Lisa Dias, Jenn Mason, Maple Lys, and Remi Gervais.

Conflict of interest

The author declares no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Notes

¹ Participants drew and described their perception of what they referred to as an ‘Inuksuk,’ which was typically a figure that had a head, arms pointed outwards from the body, and two legs. Traditionally in Inuit culture, an Inuksuk is made without a head, arms, or legs (K. Mackay, personal communication, April 12, 2018).

Additional information

Funding

The author received financial support in the form of bursaries from the Northern Scientific Training Program of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada Canadian Institutes of Health Research Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship [CGV192429]; and funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada [1516-HQ-000007].