Julia Moreau

Queen’s University

“Fostering Academic Success and Resilience with Indigenous College and University Students”

Announcing the award winner of the first-ever Stratas Award for Indigenous Mental Health Research ($2,000), Julia Moreau. This award is dedicated to an Indigenous-identifying student or researcher whose research focuses on Indigenous mental health.

Julia is a graduate student in the Department of Psychology at Queen's University. Her research project will be undertaken alongside Indigenous mentors such as Cultural Counsellors, Student Advisors, and fellow Indigenous researchers and seeks to examine Indigenous post-secondary education outcomes in Canada by identifying gaps in mental health service provisions. More about Julia’s research project can be found below:

My doctoral research is in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s call for improvement of post-secondary education outcomes and amendment of gaps in access to psychological wellness services among Indigenous peoples.

Unfortunately, Indigenous students attending colleges and universities experience less academic success, and suffer from pervasive psychological wellness difficulties (e.g., depression, anxiety) at higher rates, than non-Indigenous students.

Further, research investigating the resilience of Indigenous peoples who prevail despite educational and psychological disparities is sparse.

Thus, my research with Indigenous students will explore how cultural connectedness affects the relationship between psychological wellness and academic success and will examine the quality of current psychological and academic services offered to Indigenous students.

Ultimately, results will inform development of culturally appropriate and safe campus service provision for Indigenous post-secondary students.