As part of an 11-country qualitative study of resilience among at-risk youth, 19 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadian adolescents were interviewed. In this paper, we report on the Canadian youths' culturally specific and generic strategies to cope with adversity. Findings suggest that the youths' resilience, or capacity to cope under stress, reflects different degrees of access to 7 mental health-enhancing experiences (we term these “tensions”): access to material resources; access to supportive relationships; development of a desirable personal identity; experiences of power and control; adherence to cultural traditions; experiences of social justice; and experiences of a sense of cohesion with others.

Cet article présente les résultats de l'évaluation d'un programme d'intervention préventive destiné à des enfants d'âge préscolaire qui fréquentent un milieu de garde et qui présentent des problemes de comportement. Les données ont été recueillies auprès des éducatrices (N = 41) et des parents (N = 40). Les résultats montrent qu'une majorité d'enfants voient leurs problèmes de comportement diminuer à la suite de l'intervention, laquelle diminution se maintient à moyen terme. Le programme est particulièrement aidant pour les enfants les plus en difficulté, ceux dont le parent répondant est plus jeune et ceux dont la famille, aux yeux des intervenants et intervenantes, se mobilise le plus. En lien avec le milieu de garde, on constate que le programme est particulièrement aidant pour les enfants faisant partie d'un groupe de plus petite taille, fréquentant un service de garde en milieu familial et dont l'éducatrice est moins scolarisée.

Black women in Canada have not been the focus of intensive mental health research, even though data suggests they may be vulnerable to mental health disparities. The present study utilizes in-depth qualitative methods to explore the psychosocial experience of Black women in Montreal. Twelve women participated in semi-structured interviews that aimed to elicit principal psychosocial stressors and buffers. Three notable stressors emerged from analyses: financial adversity, racism, and absent fathers. Three notable buffers emerged from analyses: families, the church, and cultural pride. Implications for further research on this vulnerable population are discussed.

Qualitative focus group methods were used to examine the readiness of children's mental health organizations in rural communities to make use of research knowledge. A social construction perspective underpins this study, highlighting the significance of subjective interpretation in the actions and reactions of individuals in their everyday world. Knowledge translation was conceptualized by participants on a continuum, ranging from the provision of basic service information to more sophisticated evidence-based research on evidence-based practice. For rural and remote communities, strategies at the service-provisional level can play a role in addressing the challenges posed by the dire lack of resources in children's mental health.

Clubhouses, as voluntary communities, can be excellent indicators of recovery environments for persons who have a mental illness. To understand why people become affiliated with a Clubhouse and others disengage, 4 focus groups with Clubhouse members and 1 with staff explored questions of membership retention. Responses encompassed 4 domains: personal, interpersonal, structure, and organizational environment. These domains were interwoven with values of acceptance without stigma, empowerment, self-determination, egalitarian relationships, independence, interdependence, dignity, respect, hope, and positive expectations. The domains and values correspond to elements that aid recovery. The presence and absence of such domains encouraged people to either attend or stay away from the organization. Overall analyses of the groups' responses suggest that recovery-oriented values and organizational climate are important factors in determining attendance in a consumer-oriented program.

The Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) is a widely used self-report scale to assess depressive symptom levels among the general population. The purposes of the study are to explore the factor structure of CES-D in a population-based Canadian sample and to compare focal constructs of CES-D across age and gender. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the four-factor structure of the CES-D across three age categories and both genders. Subscales scores, however, showed important differences primarily based on gender. Attending to these specific symptom dimensions could help explain known gender differences in depression.

Cette étude a pour objectif général de décrire et de comprendre comment les intervenants des territoires du Nunavik perçoivent les spécificités « nordiques » du dévoilement d'agressions sexuelles à l'égard des mineurs, ainsi que les réactions de l'entourage des jeunes victimes. Quinze intervenants (hommes et femmes) allochtones et inuits, provenant des villages d'Inukjuak, de Puvirnituq et de Salluit, ont été rencontrés. L'analyse de contenu thématique a été utilisée comme principal mode de réduction du matériel d'entretien obtenu. Cette analyse montre que diverses caractéristiques ont été attribuées au contexte nordique par les intervenants: l'importance du patriarcat dans la vie ancestrale, la consommation d'alcool, l'isolement géographique et l'étroitesse des rapports interpersonnels. Une grande pudeur restreindrait les discussions à caractère sexuel tout en limitant la diffusion de messages préventifs. Plusieurs se questionnent aussi sur les effets du « mentorat » plus faible qu'exerceraient maintenant les aîné(e)s dans les villages. La qualité des relations de travail entre intervenants inuits et allochtones paraît varier sensiblement d'un village à l'autre, en fonction du nombre d'intervenants allochtones présents dans la communauté, de la durée de leur passage et du degré de leur implication. Compte tenu de la très grande rareté des travaux portant sur les jeunes victimes d'agression sexuelle au Nunavik, il est apparu pertinent d'interroger tout d'abord les intervenants. Au plan des limites méthodologiques, il importe toutefois de rappeler que cette étude porte essentiellement sur des perceptions.

This study evaluates the implementation and impact of a pilot project aimed at establishing an integrated service network for adults with severe mental disorders in an urban area in the province of Quebec. Post-implementation evaluation shows that the project helped improve the perceived integration and quality of services. However, the implementation of a true integrated service network in mental health necessitates involvement of all providers who play a significant role in mental health, including general practitioners and intersectoral resources, a sufficient pool of diversified resources, strong governance, and the development of a complete set of coherent clinical and administrative integration strategies.