Healing Traditions: Culture, Community and Mental Health Promotion With Canadian Aboriginal Peoples

The authors review recent literature examining the links between the history of colonialism & government intervention & the mental health of Canadian Aboriginal peoples. They find that there are high rates of social problems, demoralisation, depression, substance abuse, suicide & other mental health problems in many Aboriginal communities. They conclude that there is clear & compelling evidence that the long history of cultural oppression & marginalisation has contributed to the high levels of mental health problems in many communities. (59 refs)