Francophone Mental Health Services in Rural Nova Scotia: Language, Culture and Service Provision

Effective communication is critical to accurate diagnosis and management of health problems, and thus to better health outcomes. Failure to recognize linguistic need and the related effect of culture on the interpretation of and response to diagnosis and treatment of illness can result in less appropriate care. This project will develop methods to examine such issues in relationship to services provided for mental health disorders in francophone areas of rural Nova Scotia. Such disorders are common, and more than for many illnesses, require effective communication for adequate management. This research partners Dalhousie University, the Réseau Santé en français Nouvelle-Écosse (RSNÉ) and the Nova Scotia Department of Health (NSDoH) in examining the impact of minority French language status on diagnosis of, and hospitalization and referral for mental health disorders in rural Nova Scotia. Both the RSNÉ and the NSDoH are working in support of Law 111, a recent French-language Services Act which allows cabinet to oblige departments, offices, agencies, crown corporations and public institutions to provide French language services. In carrying out this research, we will further develop and adapt methodologies that we have used to examine the health status of other minority populations. The research will involve piloting new ways to use administrative health data bases linked to census data. We will also explore qualitatively how language and culture act as barriers to diagnosis and treatment of such disorders. This developmental research will allow us to assess the potential for these innovative approaches to study the impact of francophone minority language status and culture on conditions other than mental health. It also will allow us to develop productive and ongoing partnerships with the RSNÉ and the NDoH so that the results of this and subsequent work may be used to respond to expectations created by the passing of Law 111.