Research summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on communities of all sizes around the world. But many remote communities have particularly limited access to the supports and health care needed to help residents deal with the disease-and there is little information about the long-term effects the pandemic has had on them.
As Canada Research Chair in Population Health, Dr. Sangita Sharma is working with Arctic Indigenous communities in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories to identify and address the diverse impacts of COVID-19 on their mental, physical, emotional, social, cultural and spiritual health. In particular, she and her research team are exploring the impact of the pandemic on child and youth development. Ultimately, their findings will be used to inform, develop, implement and evaluate a community-based and-led program to improve youth and child health in these areas.