Sheltering Aboriginal Women with Mental Illness in Ontario, Canada: Being “Kicked” and Nurtured

Phyllis Montgomery

doi:10.4172/2167-1168.1000164

Abstract

Objective: For individuals living with mental health challenges, the provision of homeless shelters can offer a temporary respite in overwhelming life circumstances. There is, however, limited evidence regarding the subjective experiences associated with shelter services by Aboriginal women in Canada. The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the day-to-day experiences of Aboriginal women as they seek and provide safety, comfort, health, and healing in the context of mental illness and insecure housing. Methods: The study design was a secondary qualitative analysis of data collected in a primary mixed method study involving persons faced with mental health and housing challenges in southern Ontario, Canada. Narrative analysis was used to identify common experiences among 11 shelter service users and 10 shelter service providers, all of whom where Aboriginal women. Results: Regardless of whether the women received or provided shelter services, they consistently described experiences about being “kicked” and nurtured. Their stories about being “kicked” described experiences associated with compounding losses. Juxtaposed to this reality, were accounts about being nurtured or “lifting each other up.” Nurturing relations were essential to address the pervasive health and social disparities experienced by the women. Relationships within homeless shelters were directed towards supporting the health and well-being of individual women and their broader community. Conclusion: This study’s findings extend the community mental health body of nursing literature regarding Aboriginal women living with mental illness and homelessness. Despite the protective and restorative components of nurturing within shelter services, cooperative networks need to be developed to build communities that eradicate the pervasive losses experienced by Aboriginal women who continue to be “kicked.”

Highlights

In Canada, the health and well-being of Aboriginal women is compromised in comparison to their non-Aboriginal female counterparts
Aboriginal women are more often homeless compared to both non-Aboriginal women and Aboriginal men [9], which has further compromised their overall wellbeing inclusive of mental health
For insecurely housed Canadians, such as Aboriginal women, the use of adult shelter services has been fundamental to sustaining day-to-day survival in the midst of entrenched health and social disparities

Summary

Introduction

In Canada, the health and well-being of Aboriginal women is compromised in comparison to their non-Aboriginal female counterparts. Impacted by entrenched historical and contemporary health and social inequities [6, 10] Aboriginal women often enter homeless shelter services to seek refuge [11,12]. For insecurely housed Canadians, such as Aboriginal women, the use of adult shelter services has been fundamental to sustaining day-to-day survival in the midst of entrenched health and social disparities. In this way, homeless services focus predominantly on fulfilling immediate basic needs [13,14]. The coordination and timeliness of appropriate services to break the cyclic nature of homelessness is challenging given the variability and complexity of needs that threaten well-being [11,15]

Methods

Results

Conclusion