Instructor resources contained within this website are provided on an open-access basis and licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. You are free to:
Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
Please note that appropriate attribution must always be made when using materials provided under this license (whether shared or adapted).
We request that you proceed cautiously when making changes to the materials (whether provided within onQ and/or in person) in consideration and acknowledgement of the fact that we are all still learning about issues pertaining to I-EDIAA. Due to each of our differing positionalities, we may unwittingly cause harm. We therefore recommend seeking input from a trusted colleague with a different positionality than yours whenever possible.
Mini Case Scenarios
Preview
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) reported in March 2022 that the COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating impacts on the mental health of Canadians, highlighting pre-existing and increasing needs for mental health services. According to the AAMC, over 150 million people live in federally designated mental health professional shortage areas. In collaboration with UBC researchers, CMHA released survey findings that show 37% of Canadians reporting declining mental health since the onset of the pandemic...
Preview
Opioids, a highly addictive category of drugs that causes irreparable damage to various parts of the body and mind, has increasingly become a global issue. As a response to this opioid crisis, British Columbia has passed a law decriminalizing small amounts (up to 2.5 grams) of opioids, as well as cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA, for individuals 18 years of age and older. The reason they decided to do this is to “break down the stigma that stops people from accessing life-saving support and services”. The stigma around opioids forces people to hide their addiction instead of seeking the help they need and this often leads to them using and dying alone...
Preview
Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for everyone at all ages. To achieve this goal, the establishment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is essential. UHC ensures that individuals and communities have access to quality healthcare services without experiencing financial hardship...
Discussion Topics
- How might the community support and contribute to a responsive addiction and mental health support system?
- How might Queen’s Athletics & Recreation Centre maximize opportunities for community partnerships?
- How are different health issues reported? How are local stories covered versus international?
- What impact does health have on the local economy?
- How might funding programs for organizations, such as the Maltby Centre, be designed to ensure sustainability over various timeframes (eg short, medium, long term)?
- What role does Queen's play in ensuring that all those working & studying in the community do so in a safe environment?
- How might we re-purpose vacant buildings for civic use and in a way that meets the needs of the local community?
- How does gender impact a person's access to health care?
- To what extent is it the responsibility of the community to ensure that the health and well-being needs of marginalized communities are met?
- Is the level of physical activity associated with demographic indicators?
Assessment Ideas
- Position Paper: What role can community organizations have in eliminating power dynamics affecting Kingston youth? Through the lens of a youth mentor, identify how power dynamics affect youth by writing a position paper to be shared with Youth Diversion that proposes strategic solutions to address challenges youth are currently facing.
- Research Paper: Write a research paper exploring the impact of stigma on seeking and receiving mental health care, both globally and within specific cultures. Examine strategies to reduce stigma and improve access to mental health services, considering socio-cultural factors and policy implications.
- Case Study Analysis: Provide students with a case study involving an ethical dilemma in healthcare. They should analyze the case, identify ethical principles and considerations, and propose a course of action that upholds patient rights and well-being.
- Policy Brief: Analyze a health policy or program implemented at the national or international level. Critically evaluate the policy's impact on improving health outcomes, identify strengths and weaknesses, and propose recommendations for policy improvement or implementation.
- Group Presentation: Have each group select two different countries and compare their healthcare systems in terms of accessibility, quality, and equity. Groups should highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each system and discuss how these systems contribute to or hinder the achievement of good health and well-being.
- Data Analysis and Recommendations: Conduct an epidemiological investigation of a disease outbreak or public health issue. They should collect and analyze relevant data, identify risk factors, assess the impact on the affected population, and propose strategies for prevention and control.
- Communications Strategy: Design a health promotion campaign targeting a specific population or community. Identify a health issue, conduct a needs assessment, develop evidence-based strategies, and create communication materials. Present the campaign plan, including objectives, target audience, messaging, and evaluation metrics.
Additional Resources
Faculty Subject Matter Experts
You may wish to contact one of the following departments who may have subject matter experts in this area:
Health Studies ()
Experiential Learning Contact
Christina Dinsmore (pronouns: she/her)
Associate Director, Experiential Learning & Programming
asc.el@queensu.ca
- Canadian Mental Health Association. Running on Empty: How community mental health organizations have fared on the frontlines of COVID-19. 2022 [cited 2023; Available from: https://cmha.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Running-on-empty-Full-Paper-Report-EN-Final.pdf.
- Ontario Psychiatric Association. Shortage of Psychiatrists Contributing to Crisis in Access to Mental Health Treatment. 2018 [cited 2023 Available from: https://eopa.ca/news-updates/shortage-of-psychiatrists-contributing-to-crisis-in-access-to-mental-health-treatment#:~:text=Released%20today%20from%20the%20Ontario,will%20grow%20by%2075%25%20by.