ID: 21
Presenting Author: Nasim Khatibsemnani
Status: pending
This presentation explores how major resource projects impact Indigenous mental health and well-being, offering evidence-based insights to inform the federal impact assessments process.
Large-scale resource and infrastructure projects have well-documented effects on Indigenous communities, yet mental health impacts remain relatively underexplored. This scoping review analyzes 61 academic and grey literature sources published between 2014–2024, focusing on Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Findings reveal that projects often disrupt community cohesion, as well as cultural practices and land-based activities that promote well-being, contributing to solastalgia, anxiety, grief, and intergenerational disconnection. The pathways for these and other impacts are complex. On the one hand, economic opportunities from projects can enhance well-being vis-à-vis increased access to traditional practices through increased income. However, they can also bring unique challenges, such as feelings of isolation and cultural loss, community concerns for substance use, gambling, and the safety of Indigenous women and girls. Structural issues, such as racism and a lack of cultural safety, can persist in project settings and require special attention to mitigate inequities. Recommendations include support for land-based healing, cultural continuity, workplace safety, and gender-responsive measures. These insights will inform the Public Health Agency of Canada’s contributions to federal impact assessments, to help ensure that mental health and well-being are meaningfully considered in project reviews.
Dr. Nasim Khatibsemnani is a Senior Policy Analyst at PHAC with expertise in Indigenous health equity, impact assessment, and approaches to mental wellness and public policy.
Coauthor 1: Rosalind Ragetlie
Coauthor 2: Roshaany Asirvatham
Coauthor 3: Kelsey Lucyk