Project Summary

Our Health Counts is a community-based research project which aims to assess and improve the health of urban Indigenous people.  The study consists of a comprehensive health assessment, the Respectful Health Survey, to fill the gaps of missing information regarding physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health domains.  Several communities in Ontario have already participated in this project, including Hamilton, Toronto, London, and Ottawa. This project will build the first comprehensive and inclusive (i.e. First Nations/Inuit/Métis) population based urban Indigenous adult and child database in Canada.  The database will allow us to quantify the sampling bias of the national census and other Thunder Bay based studies. This large project will inform effective and culturally appropriate population health programs and policies to improve the health of Indigenous individuals, families, communities, and nations.  This research is done by Indigenous people, for Indigenous people.

The project is being led by Well Living House, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto in partnership with Anishnawbe Mushkiki. This project is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The collection of the 600 Respectful Health Surveys will conclude in August 2019.

Goals

The goals of this study are:

  • To find the prevalence of key health outcomes and social determinants of health for Indigenous adults and children
  • To find the prevalence of unmet health care needs, and patterns of emergency room use
  • To use this health information for community health policies, programs, services, and evaluations

Who Can Participate?

In order to participate in the study, you must receive a coupon from your family member or friend who has already completed the survey.  Additionally, you must:

  • Self-identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit;
  • Be 15 years old or over;
  • Live, work, or access services in Thunder Bay.

If you received a coupon to participate, call or email us to make an appointment!

Questions

For more information about the Our Health Counts project, please visit the Well Living House website.

If you have questions about the Our Health Counts Thunder Bay project, please email ohcthunderbay@mushkiki.com
or call us at (807) 629-4163