A closer look at mental health in Canada’s indigenous community

Nearly 1 in 4 adults in Canada’s indigenous community has considered suicide, a new study finds. Over 14,000 indigenous adults surveyed report their psychological distress was often due to socioeconomic challenges, such as food insecurity and employment status. One caveat: The survey didn’t include people living in mental health facilities, where the study authors say many indigenous people reside, so the findings only offer a partial look at the issues within the community. “Our findings underscore the need for greater policy attention to socioeconomic inequalities in mental health within Indigenous peoples as well as inequalities in mental health between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people,” the authors write.