Health Outcomes

Intergenerational trauma stemming back to colonization, residential schools, and the resulting low socioeconomic status of today, leads to poor physical health outcomes for some Indigenous people. See: Social Determinants of Health Inequities in Indigenous Canadians. In addition, mental illness, addictions, and suicide can be traced back to their roots in the loss of family, community, identity, culture, and language that began with colonization. See: Indigenous people, trauma, and suicide prevention.

Poor health outcomes for people who are First Nations, Métis, and Inuit are often the result of lack of access to health care, or receiving health care that is systemically racist. The College of Family Physicians of Canada has prepared this Fact Sheet: Health and Health Care Implications of Systemic Racism on Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

Mental health concerns and suicide are particularly troubling issues for Indigenous youth. See: Finding our Power Together for a look at one initiative supporting Indigenous youths’ desire to thrive.