Therapeutic recreation as a pathway to support mental health in Northern Canada: practitioners perspectives

ABSTRACT

Residing in northern Canada presents unique contextual factors that can implicate one’s experience and management of their mental health. Scant evidence exists pertaining to the role of clinical therapeutic recreation services in northern Canada, specifically in supporting mental health. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of therapeutic recreation in supporting mental health in northern Canada, specifically in Yukon Territory. Seven Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists participated in one-on-one semi-structured interviews, and data were analyzed using a process of content analysis. Findings are represented by four themes: (a) creating pathways to coping, (b) creating pathways to meaning, (c) creating pathways to connection and, (d) practicing therapeutic recreation in Yukon Territory: contextual considerations. Findings contribute to the understanding of how the therapeutic recreation profession can support mental health in Yukon Territory and can be extended to future practice across northern Canada and other similar contexts.

Résumé

Résider dans le Nord du Canada présente des facteurs contextuels uniques qui peuvent influer sur l’expérience et la gestion de la santé mentale d’une personne. Il existe peu de données sur le rôle des services de loisirs thérapeutiques cliniques dans le Nord du Canada, en particulier dans le soutien de la santé mentale. L’objectif de cette étude était d’explorer le rôle des loisirs thérapeutiques dans le soutien de la santé mentale dans le nord du Canada, en particulier dans le territoire du Yukon. Sept spécialistes agréés en loisirs thérapeutiques ont participé à des entretiens individuels semi-structurés, et les données ont été analysées à l’aide d’un processus d’analyse de contenu. Les résultats sont représentés par quatre thèmes : (a) créer des voies d’adaptation, (b) créer des voies de signification, (c) créer des voies de connexion et (d) pratiquer le loisir thérapeutique dans le territoire du Yukon : considérations contextuelles. Les résultats contribuent à la compréhension de la façon dont la profession de récréation thérapeutique peut soutenir la santé mentale dans le territoire du Yukon et peut être mise en pratique à l’avenir dans le Nord du Canada et dans d’autres contextes similaires.

KEYWORDS:

• therapeutic recreation
• Northern Canada
• mental health
• community-based participatory research

MOTS-CLÉS:

• loisirs thérapeutiques
• santé mentale
• recherche communautaire
• nord

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the participants who shared their insights and expertise to complete this work.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Mitacs Accelerate Program [IT23455].

Notes on contributors

Lauren A. Ray

Lauren A. Ray is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist currently practicing in Yukon Territory, Canada. During this study, Lauren was a Master of Science student at the University of Alberta. Her research interests include topics on mental health, women's participation in sport, leisure, and recreation, as well as the use of collaborative and participatory approaches to research.

Tristan D. Hopper

Dr. Tristan D. Hopper, PhD is an Assistant Professor at the University of Regina in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies. His research program is broadly focused on exploring the intersection of youth experiencing homelessness and their engagement in recreation, sport, and leisure spaces. His work primarily draws on the use of community-based participatory research methods.

Tara-Leigh F McHugh

Dr. Tara-Leigh F McHugh’s research is broadly focused on addressing gender equity in sport, and subsequently enhancing the experiences of women and youth in sport and physical activity. Through qualitative and collaborative research approaches her research provides an in-depth exploration of the psychosocial aspects of sport and physical activity experiences. Her commitment to community-based participatory research has supported the success of her nationally funded program of research that is focused on working with women and girls, as well as Indigenous youth.