(SMH4) Political, Social, and Environmental Stressors on Mental Health and Well-Being

This session will focus on the myriad and multifaceted political, social, and environmental stressors, along with variation in their mental health consequences as a function of social status. Examples of these stressors include, but are not limited to: climate change and other related natural disasters such as wildfires and floods; the Covid-19 pandemic and its far-reaching impacts on work, family, and social life; and political, social, and economic unrest associated with war or activist movements. Tags: Mouvements Sociaux, Politique, Santé et soin

Organizers: Jinette Comeau, King's University College at Western University, Ruth Repchuck, McMaster University; Chair: Jinette Comeau, King's University College at Western University

Presentations

Kimberly Seida, Egale Canada

Peer support as an adaptive response to addressing 2SLGBTQI mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Physical and mental health disparities are heightened in 2SLGBTQI populations and are largely due to minority stressors such as recurring discrimination or a lack of social support (Frost and Meyer, 2023). The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues (Nowaskie and Roesler, 2022). Egale Canada’s Queering Mental Health Supports in Canada project employed social determinants of health and intersectional minority stress frameworks to address knowledge gaps concerning the pandemic’s impacts on social determinants of mental health among 2SLGBTQI people nationwide. Based on virtual focus groups and qualitative, semi-structured interviews conducted in 2022 with 42 2SLGBTQI community members and 19 service providers (N = 61), a national survey (N = 304), as well as virtual community consultation events, this paper explores the challenges 2SLGBTQI community members are facing because of the pandemic’s impacts, particularly those related to social and peer-based supports, as well as their response to these challenges. Findings from thematic analyses revealed widespread impacts on numerous social determinants of mental health, including decreased access to physical and mental healthcare, housing, income security, food security, employment, and social supports. Negative changes in social support were one of the most widely cited impacts. Consequently, this paper highlights the role of both informal and formal peer supports in shaping 2SLGBTQI individuals’ mental health and well-being throughout the pandemic. Peer support has largely been marginalized within formalized mental health services as a valid form of mental healthcare, with limited Canadian research showing its efficacy, especially among 2SLGBTQI service seekers. Our data further demonstrate the value of having mental health supports provided by those who share lived experiences with those receiving care. Survey findings showed that over half of our survey participants (54%) (n = 163) indicated moderate to severe negative changes in social support during the pandemic (e.g., loss of contact with some or all family and friends). However, despite drastic public health measures inducing barriers to social support, survey respondents and focus group participants still found ways to access social and peer-based supports. When asked about the sources of mental health support they had sought out since the start of the pandemic, 68% (n = 194) of survey respondents had reached out to friends, and 11% (n = 33) had reached out to peer counsellors/navigators. Qualitative findings also revealed connections between a lack of social support and mental health issues, such as anxiety, loneliness, burnout, and suicidality. In efforts to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on access to community connections and social support, participants widely discussed peer support as a form of mental health care which they were already accessing or hoped to access to deal with pandemic-related stressors. Benefits of peer support included empowerment, social support, increased empathy, acceptance, hope, and reduced stigma (Repper and Carter, 2011). In our study, seeking out peer-based supports was directly connected to acute challenges faced by participants in attempts to access more formalized mental healthcare (e.g., counselling, social work). Our findings put forward recommendations for service providers and funders to prioritize peer and community-based supports to holistically address 2SLGBTQI mental health and well-being. Indeed, the growth of peer support networks and care models holds promise for 2SLGBTQI service seekers facing increased mental healthcare access barriers since the pandemic. However, findings and emergent recommendations stress the continued need for systemic social, political, and economic changes to meaningfully address the growing disparities facing 2SLGBTQI communities across Canada. These structural changes include de-siloing approaches to mental healthcare (i.e., integrating formalized and peer-based models of care), increasing 2SLSGBTQI representation among healthcare providers, and implementing queer-specific, intersectional, and wholistic approaches to mental healthcare (including robust peer-based supports) which actively respond to harms caused by structural and interpersonal discrimination and marginalization.

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Non-presenting author: Brittany Jakubiec, Eagle Canada; Félix Desmeules-Trudel, Egale Canada

Ashley Berard, University of Victoria

Mental Health and Wildfire Disasters: Where are the resources?

Drawing on data from a PhD research project which interviewed over 30 participants in the Interior of British Columbia who have experienced wildfire disasters, this presentation will cover the mental health impact of wildfire disasters. Specifically, the presentation will highlight how participants described their mental health post-disaster, especially linked to their identities as rural community members. The presentation will highlight the overarching theme of the findings which involves a lack of clear resources available to support those who have endured a disaster. The presentation will end with some suggestions for pathways forward. 

Cinthya Guzman, University of Prince Edward Island

Interpreting Boredom: A Sociological Perspective on Emotion and Identity

For this presentation, I examine boredom through comprehensive qualitative interviews with 100 individuals in Ontario, conducted between May and October 2019. These narratives reveal how individuals experience and articulate boredom in relation to their familial backgrounds, life transitions, and cultural narratives. The study identifies six distinct relations (and associated experiences) to boredom: avoidance vs. Embracing, struggle vs. Acceptance, and internal vs. External-seeking. This classification underscores the diversity of experiences with boredom and reflects the intricate ways individuals navigate their emotional landscapes within their social environments. To help explain and make sense of these diverse relations and experiences of boredom, I introduce the concept of plausible path articulations as a novel sociological framework for exploring individual responses to emotional states. Boredom is not merely a lack of stimulation; it is a complex emotional state that intertwines with past structures, current social realities, and resonant cultural repertoires speaking to future orientations. My proposed approach transcends traditional views on boredom, shifting focus to how individuals encounter and interpret this state. The narratives from the interviews highlight various experiences with boredom, from individuals feeling a sense of disconnection and searching for social fulfillment, to those finding introspective meaning and self-validation. The study’s findings delve into the broader implications of boredom, considering its role as a reflection of social location and as a mechanism by which emotions intersect with collective perceptions and social structures. Methodologically, the paper employs theoretical sampling and focuses on in-depth case exploration over broad representativeness. The challenges in recruitment due to the requirement for smartphone access and the initial over-representation of certain demographics are addressed through targeted recruitment strategies. The qualitative interviews, conducted after an experience sampling method (ESM) protocol, providing rich insights into boredom as perceived by respondents. This protocol, requiring participants to chronicle their experiences six times a day, fosters a high level of self-examination, enriching the study with layered understanding of individuals navigation of boredom. A key finding is the diverse coping mechanisms individuals employ in response to boredom. These range from actively seeking external stimulation and social interaction to introspective methods that involve self-reflection and personal growth. The study also sheds light on how boredom can act as a catalyst for change, pushing individuals to re-evaluate their life choices and pursue meaningful activities that align with their personal goals and values. The proposed paper highlights the importance of understanding boredom in the context of an individual’s entire life narrative, including past experiences, present circumstances, and future aspirations. As such, the paper offers a novel perspective on boredom, expanding the sociological understanding of this emotion. Boredom is not a monolithic state but varies in its expression and impact, influenced by an individual’s life stage, cultural background, and past socialization, notably familial. This research thus contributes to a broader sociological understanding of boredom, moving beyond static definitions to explore how it manifests as a facet of identity and meaning-making.