Community Psychiatry in the Canadian Arctic – Reflections From A 1-year Continuous Consultation Series in Iqaluit, Nunavut

Abstract

This study examined the clinical and social characteristics of clients (N = 110) in a retrospective chart review from a 1-year continuous psychiatric consultation series in the Inuit community of Iqaluit, Nunavut. Interpersonal and socio-environmental stressors were found to be unusually extensive and the primary precipitators of psychiatric crises such as suicide attempts. Negative health determinants such as unemployment, overcrowding, domestic violence, substance abuse, and legal charges were also prevalent. Psychiatric issues in the Arctic appear deeply interwoven with interpersonal, socioeconomic, and societal changes; effective community mental health services must address a broad spectrum of psychosocial issues beyond the medical model.