Web of culture: critically assessing and building culturally relevant online mental health resources for aboriginal youth in northern BC

Traditional sources of health information are no longer meeting the needs of younger generations, including Aboriginal youth, who are increasingly turning to the Internet with their health-related questions. Research has shown that culturally tailored health education and information resources are those best received by Aboriginal peoples. This project will look at whether existing online mental health resources are age and culturally appropriate for Aboriginal youth (ages 19-25) living in Northern BC. Using a social determinants of health framework, this research employed decolonizing and (participatory) action-based research methodologies, as well as arts-based methods (digital storytelling). Five key findings resulted from this study. The most important finding was that existing online mental health resources do not adequately address needs of Aboriginal youth living in Northern BC. Digital storytelling as an arts-based method, however, was an effective and engaging research tool to work with youth populations. --Leaf ii.