Healing through tradition: the role of Indigenous Elder support in child and youth mental health in Canada
Dados Bibliográficos
| AUTOR(ES) | |
|---|---|
| AFILIAÇÃO(ÕES) | Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Canada, Indigenous Child & Youth Mental Health, Canada |
| ANO | 2024 |
| TIPO | Artigo |
| PERIÓDICO | AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples |
| ISSN | 1177-1801 |
| E-ISSN | 1174-1740 |
| EDITORA | Annual Reviews (United States) |
| DOI | 10.1177/11771801241289999 |
| ADICIONADO EM | 2025-08-18 |
Resumo
The current mental health care system in Canada, with its focus on Western biomedical and individualistic approaches, does not support Indigenous holistic views of wellness and silences Indigenous knowledges through colonial ideologies. This research identifies the vital support that mental health services must include to create culturally relevant and safe services: Elders. Elders provide holistic approaches to mental wellness that consider cultural, individual, family, and community needs to promote healing. To explore the roles of Elders in mental health services, a comprehensive narrative review was conducted. All 22 included studies were conducted by Indigenous scholars or with Indigenous communities. Findings were organized into three themes: (a) Elders are knowledge keepers: sharing wisdom; (b) need for cultural-based teachings, ceremonies, and land-based healing led by Elders; and (c) Importance of relationships for increasing youth's mental wellness. Barriers were identified that prevent Elder involvement, and recommendations for mental health programmes are provided.