Reclaiming overall well-being: an analysis of individual- and community-level characteristics contributing to well-being in Yukon First Nations

This collaborative study implemented a new conceptual framework for health research relevant to Yukon First Nations people and actively involved Yukon First Nations as partners into all steps of the research. Selected characteristics from the Yukon Adult RHS data-set (individual-level characteristics) and the ecological variable survey (community-level characteristics) underwent a sequence of bivariate and multivariate comparisons to explore associations with three outcome measures for overall well-being: no depression, no suicidal thoughts and no suicide attempts. Six individual-level characteristics were identified that had a significant association with the outcome measures: traditional foods modern and traditional health care emotional supports and loving relationships spirituality physical well-being and socio-economic characteristics. The following community-level characteristics emerged as being significantly associated with the outcome measures: geographic characteristics community control community engagement and cultural continuity. Limitations of the study, implications for practice and policy and recommendations for future research and summary comments are identified and discussed.