The lack of interactions, difficulties in accessing care and information are identified as the main causes of the anxiety felt by French-speaking families in the Canadian Prairies after the pandemic.
The research team behind this study delivered its results on October 24 during the inauguration of the new scientific conference season of the Association for the Promotion of Knowledge (ACFAS) of Saskatchewan.
Fransaskoises Anne Leis, professor and director of the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan, and Élyse Proulx-Cullen, doctoral student and project manager, coordinated the study.
Study results – Intensity of the negative impacts of the pandemic for French-speaking families in the Canadian prairie provinces. Credit: Anne Leis and Élyse Proulx-Cullen
“The objectives of this research were really to take stock of the respondents’ experience of the pandemic,” explains Anne Leis, “and to compare and contrast some findings and envisaged solutions. »
A long investigation
Conducted since 2021 and commissioned by the Canadian Health Research Institute, this research work was divided into two parts: world cafés, allowing a better understanding of the problems encountered by families, then a survey designed from points discussed during the meetings.
A total of 47 French-speaking families across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba participated in the meetings. Just over half of them had a child under the age of nine, and the majority lived in the city.
From this first stage, the team identified that the lack of information and resources, isolation, deterioration of mental health and lack of access to care and French-speaking practitioners were particularly difficult, especially for young people and children.
“There are mental health problems in young children,” emphasizes Anne Leis, “and language development may have been somewhat compromised because they have not socialized and only speak to their parents. » Adolescents would have suffered more educationally and socially.
Four priorities
The questionnaire created from these observations was then distributed across the three provinces thanks to the Health Networks. Some 320 families responded, including 69 in Saskatchewan.
Study results – Intensity of the negative impacts of the pandemic for French-speaking families in the Canadian prairie provinces. Credit: Anne Leis and Élyse Proulx-Cullen
After analyzing the survey results, the researchers identified four priorities: “Quality education services; better access to mental health services; better access to healthcare professionals in French; and better access to recreational, sporting and artistic activities in French for children and young people. »
At the end of their conference, the academics expressed their desire that the communities concerned take hold of their results and organize themselves to bring the stated priorities to life.
“Dissemination tools will be presented to Health Network partners, and a website will be associated with the project,” specifies Élyse Proulx-Cullen.
If these results shed light on the situation of French-speaking families, a larger sample of respondents and a comparison with English-speaking families could provide more precision in future research.
