Supporting and strengthening mental wellness in NunatuKavut

Abstract

NunatuKavut Inuit have reported a lack of culturally relevant resources, services, and supports for mental health across their territory. "Understanding People, Place, and Culture: A NunatuKavut Inuit Mental Wellness Initiative” (NWI Project) is a community-based participatory research project led by NunatuKavut Community Council and academic researchers to address the community mental wellness needs of NunatuKavut Inuit in south and central Labrador. This dissertation consists of two separate but related studies that are situated within the NWI Project. The first study described how NunatuKavut Inuit envision community-led mental wellness programming and how community knowledge was used to inform the development of the NunatuKavut Mental Wellness Program Planning Tool. The second study explored narratives of mental wellness and social change among older NunatuKavut Inuit which revealed the impacts of local and global events and the importance of revitalising traditional ways of living and strengthening community connections.