The multi-cultural group identified life stress as a primary cause of mental health problems; for example, the challenges involved in adapting to a different culture. The senior group talked about the impact of life change and loss (aging, moving, losing your home, loss of traditional identity, etc), and of social isolation. Youth were more inclined than other groups to cite social pressure as a causal factor – from family, peers, and the media. They also talked about the pressure they are under to succeed in a competitive environment. Youth were the only participants to cite television news coverage of war and violence as a potential cause of mental health problems.
In the survey, FNMI respondents were less likely than were other Canadians to identify biomedical causes (brain disease, chemical imbalance) for mental illness. Their perceptions of which type of psychosocial causal factors are most influential also differed from perceptions of the general public. In the case of depression, FNMI respondents placed less emphasis on stressful life events and more emphasis on traumatic events (such as being victimized by violence), on substance abuse, and on a hard childhood. In the case of schizophrenia, FNMI respondents placed more emphasis on stressful life events, on a hard childhood and possibly on substance abuse. Focus group results showed similar findings: the Aboriginal group, while acknowledging the influence of genetics, placed more weight on environmental causes such as racism and historical trauma.
“[Mental health problems are] very common in the Aboriginal community with our history. Residential schools, for example, have had an impact. The trauma shows in mental health problems and there is a lot of trauma in our community.”
Across the groups, people debated the relative impact of underlying causes (genetics, chemical or hormonal imbalances, childhood abuse) compared to triggering mechanisms. Some argued that stress or traumatic experiences could serve as a trigger. As the discussions progressed, a number of participants concluded that both genetics and environment probably play a role in the onset of a mental illness.
Like people in other countries, Canadians are inclined to prefer psychosocial explanations for mental health problems, Footnote 72 although they are more apt to identify biomedical causes for serious mental illness. Footnote 73 The psychosocial explanations provided by focus group participants vary somewhat by age and culture but for the most part, relate to life stress. It is debatable to what extent these tendencies represent an area for intervention. There is strong evidence for psychosocial causal influences, particularly prolonged stress, for common mental disorders. Footnote 74 Adopting biomedical and especially genetic explanations, can increase stigma and reduce optimism about recovery. Footnote 75 In addition, focus group discussions revealed that people have a general understanding that there are often multiple causal factors at work in the onset of mental disorders.
Return to note 72 Priest et al, 1996; Jorm, 1997b; Link et al, 1999; Jorm, 2000; Walker and Read, 2002
Return to note 73 Jorm, 1997b; Link et al, 1999; Jorm, 2000
Return to note 74 Read and Law, 1999; Stephens et al, 2000; Harris, 2001; Beatson and Taryan, 2003; Adelson, 2005
Return to note 75 Pescosolido et al, 1999; Phelan et al, 2000; Prior et al, 2003; Mann and Himelein, 2004; Phelan et al, 2005