Exploring the Functionality of Mental Health Services in Northern Ontario and how it Compares to Indigenous Youth Understandings of Thriving and Wellness

This Major Research Paper utilized a qualitative research approach to understand the system of mental health services available to Indigenous youth in northern Ontario and how its functionality aligns or conflicts with Indigenous youth perspectives on thriving and wellness. Using a case study-informed approach, one data set consists of a comprehensive, descriptive list of approximately 200 mental health services for Indigenous youth living in remote First Nations in northern Ontario. The other data set was obtained from an Indigenous-led youth organization’s weekly social media campaign, Thriving Thursdays. Drawing from Critical Social Sciences (CSS) and decolonizing frameworks, this study seeks to identify systemic barriers impacting First Nations’ youth access to mental health services in northern Ontario and, simultaneously, incorporate Indigenous youths’ conceptualizations to reimagine the mental health system’s design. This paper concludes with implications and recommendations to improve mental health services in northern Ontario for Indigenous youth.