Surviving, healing and moving forward: Journeys towards resilience among Canadian Cree adults

• Published in: International Journal of Social Psychiatry
• Main Authors: Isaak, Corinne A, Stewart, Donna E, Mota, Natalie P, Munro, Garry, Katz, Laurence Y, Sareen, Jitender
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 2015
• Subjects: First Nations
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0020764015584648; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0020764015584648; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full-xml/10.1177/0020764015584648

Background: Canadian First Nations (FN) people have experienced and continue to experience significant adversities, yet many demonstrate aspects of resilience. Aim: The aim of this qualitative study was to specifically understand Cree adults’ meanings and mechanisms of resilience following maltreatment. Methods: Ten Cree adults were interviewed individually. Modified grounded theory was used to interpret the transcribed interviews. Results: Participants discussed resilience as a journey of ‘survival’ and ‘overcoming’ and pathways to healing that were multifactorial and included traditional teachings. Conclusion: Mental health providers should consider and incorporate these mechanisms into treatment for Cree people, when appropriate, to aid recovery.