Mental Health Profiles for a Sample of British Columbia’s Aboriginal Survivors of the Canadian Residential School System

The purpose of this research project is to examine the abuse, mental health and health profiles in a sample of 127 Aboriginal Survivors of the residential school system who have undergone a clinical assessment. Through an analysis of their case files, the report discusses: the demographic and problem profiles of residential school Survivors and their families prior to, during and after residential school; the residential school experiences of the sample; the prevalence and co-morbidity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental disorders; and the treatment needs of residential school Survivors.
Three clinical psychologists with extensive experience assessing residential school Survivors provided their clinical reports to be coded and analyzed for this research project. In light of the sensitive issues and the use of confidential information used for this report, oral consent was obtained by the 127 individuals that make up this sample. Concerning the oral consent, the three clinicians stated that, in dealing with residential school cases, they felt that it is imperative that oral consent was the most sensitive approach since their patients were more reassured not having to write their names on any document, particularly at the initial stage of their assessments and/or treatment.

http://www.ahf.ca/downloads/mental-health.pdf