Building Back Better

Documenting the wider impacts of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan.

Photo Credit: David Stobbe / Stobbephoto.ca

Data and equity needed to drive post-pandemic recovery in Canada: a Saskatchewan contribution

This project aims to document and understand the wider impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan in four interrelated areas: mental health, substance use, housing precarity, and food insecurity.

Prior to the pandemic, significant numbers of Saskatchewan residents experienced difficulties related to these intersecting issues. Anecdotal evidence suggests the pandemic has only exacerbated these problems and increased disparities, but no information has been systematically collected. The need to understand how these challenges combine to affect wellbeing and develop effective solutions has never been greater.

The pandemic presents us with an imperative to learn lessons in order to reduce inequity and build better systems that will enable us to mitigate future public health crises.

Data and equity needed to drive post-pandemic recovery in Canada: a Saskatchewan contribution

This project aims to document and understand the wider impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan in four interrelated areas: mental health, substance use, housing precarity, and food insecurity.

Prior to the pandemic, significant numbers of Saskatchewan residents experienced difficulties related to these intersecting issues. Anecdotal evidence suggests the pandemic has only exacerbated these problems and increased disparities, but no information has been systematically collected. The need to understand how these challenges combine to affect wellbeing and develop effective solutions has never been greater.

The pandemic presents us with an imperative to learn lessons in order to reduce inequity and build better systems that will enable us to mitigate future public health crises.

How are we doing this?

We are using a multi-method study design to illuminate the wider impacts of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan.

First, in conjunction with research partners such as the Mental Health Commission of Canada and Mental Health Research Canada, we are conducting a repeated cross-sectional study to assess the perceptions and experiences of Saskatchewan adults during the pandemic.

Second, we are engaging with members of equity-seeking groups (including people who use substances, have disabilities, are 2SLGBTQ+, are newcomers), frontline workers, and community-based human services agencies to assess how the pandemic may be affecting already marginalized groups.

Population Survey

In partnership with national and provincial researchers, we are conducting a survey to gauge the wider health impacts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in and across Saskatchewan, focusing on mental health, substance use, food insecurity, and housing precarity.

Qualitative Research

We will be using qualitative research methods to understand how the pandemic has unequally impacted different equity-seeking groups in Saskatchewan, including Indigenous peoples, visible minorities such as newcomers, people with disabilities, and people disadvantaged due to their geographic location, age, and/or gender.

Community Partnerships

This research is possible through the building of intersectoral partnerships between researchers and community. Our team includes leading Saskatchewan researchers in health, social sciences, and humanities, leadership and staff of community- and service-based organizations, and government bodies from across the province.

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Policy Advocacy

We will use our survey and qualitative data to create awareness, inform future research, improve program and service delivery, and influence policy to build back better in Saskatchewan.

Core Team

Research Team

SURVEY DEVELOPMENT

Jessica McCutcheon, Associate Director / Survey Research Manager and Specialist, Canadian Hub for Applied Social Research

MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE

Natalie Kallio, Centre for Co-operatives, USask

Raina Kim, Medical Student, University of Saskatchewan

Jane Macleod, Saskatchewan Teachers Federation (STF)

Victoria Taras, Saskatchewan Teachers Federation (STF)

Mansfield Mela, Forensic Behavioural Science and Justice Studies

Vikram Nichani, SPHERU, Community Health and Epidemiology

Nuelle Novik, SPHERU, Social Work

Akela Peoples, Mental Health Research Canada

Michael Cooper, Mental Health Research Canada

Lenore Swystun, Prairie Wild Consulting

Sabbir Ahmed, SPHERU / Community Health and Epidemiology

HOUSING AND FOOD INSECURITY

Gord Androsoff, CHEP Good Food

Daniel Adeyinka, SPHERU / Community Health and Epidemiology

Jovana Miladinovic, Medical Student, University of Saskatchewan

Isobel Findlay, Community-University Institute for Social Research (CUISR)

Debra Haubrich, Melius Terra / Know YXE

Ian Roach, Melius Terra / Know YXE

Bonnie Jeffrey, SPHERU / Social Work

Sandra Kary, Friendship Inn

Laura O'Connor, Saskatoon Food Bank

Len Usiskin, Quint Development Corporation

Chelsea Brown, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Regina Qu'Appelle Region

Partners

The success of this project relies on our community partners, who are providing insight on mental health, substance use, housing, and food security issues across the province.  This work also would not be possible without generous Tri-Council funding.