APD1290H: Indigenous Studies in Mental Health & Disability Justice

0.50

This interdisciplinary course seeks to advance Indigenous approaches to mental health and disability justice, especially in terms of applied theories and practices. By critically examining Indigenous psychological, sociological, cultural, environmental, and political formulations of mental health and disability, students will gain relevant knowledge and practical skills to promote Indigenous mental health equity and disability justice, especially within Canadian healthcare, social service, educational, and community development settings. In addition to developing a conceptual understanding of Indigenous approaches to mental health and disability including knowledge of the historical development of theories and practices, contextual factors (such as structural issues like colonialism; social and health policy contexts), students will also gain familiarity with intersectional issues facing Indigenous peoples in terms of mental health equity and disability justice (issues such as ageism, gender, sexuality, housing status). Students will also be able to reflect on their vocational formation and refine their commitments to ethical, culturally-safety, and socially responsive practice in their work with Indigenous peoples with lived/living experiences of psychosocial distress and disabilities. Finally, the course is geared towards developing skills to inform mental health promotion and disability justice organizing. Students will be exposed to and develop foundational skills in individual and community-based Indigenous mental health promotion, human rights-informed practices, and disability justice organizing.

Applied Psychology and Human Development