Full Circle Queen's Indigenous Student Wellness Study

Title: “Full Circle Queen’s Indigenous Student Wellness Study”

Partner organizations: Four Directions Queen’s Indigenous Student Centre; Queen’s University Student Wellness Services; Queen’s University  

Team: Caroline Instrum (student investigator), Claire Lamothe (student investigator), Julia Moreau (student investigator), Dr. Joyla Furlano (postdoctoral fellow), Kandice Baptiste, Lisa Doxtator, Aaron St. Pierre, Dr. Pardis Pedram, Dr. Amrita Roy (faculty investigator / supervisor)

Trainees: Caroline Instrum (BSc student), Claire Lamothe (BSc student), Julia Moreau (PhD student), Dr. Joyla Furlano (postdoctoral fellow)

Funder: Studentship funding through Queen’s University Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowship (USSRF) program (awarded 2021 & 2022)

Description: The purpose of this mixed-methods student-led research is to identify the holistic wellness needs of Indigenous students at Queen’s University and understand how well current campus resources, and the manner in which they are delivered, are supporting these needs. This project involves partnerships between Queen’s University, Four Directions Indigenous Student Center, and Student Wellness Services. Using both quantitative (online survey) and qualitative (sharing circles) research methods, this project will generate a comprehensive understanding of: 

1) the current wellness state of Indigenous students at Queen’s University; 

2) whether or not current Queen’s campus health services are satisfying holistic wellness needs of Indigenous students; 

3) the types of wellness services primarily being accessed by Indigenous students at Queen’s; 

4) the perceived barriers that dissuade or prevent Indigenous students from accessing the wellness services offered by Student Wellness Services and Four Directions Indigenous Student Centres. 

This project will help to identify possible points of intervention and areas of need for Indigenous students. The project will also help to highlight what is working well, and associated lessons to be learned from the strengths, successes, and stories of resilience of Indigenous students at Queen’s. While geared towards Queen’s University, the products of this research can also be useful to other universities across Canada.

Report: Forthcoming - check back soon!