Health research and service delivery often fail to incorporate Indigenous worldviews and local community protocols, as well as historic experiences and knowledge of harmful research practices leaving Indigenous individuals wary of participating in research. Meaningfully engaging with Indigenous stakeholders (e.g., youth, family/carers, decision-makers, and service providers) in research partnerships offers a promising pathway toward better access and quality health care and improved mental health and wellness outcomes that better meet Indigenous youths' needs. This paper traces the development of a national research network, ACCESS Open Minds, a network of youth, family members/carers, clinicians, decision-makers and academics focused on transforming youth mental health services in Canada. The context for this network is one in which diverse Indigenous stakeholders have been engaged in health systems and service transformation against the historical and ongoing backdrop of colonialism. Within this paper, we will focus on the network's past and on-going activities for engaging Indigenous partners to provide a critical lens on the partnership development process. We will also underscore key activities/reflections central to the development of trust and ultimately, the sustained engagement of Indigenous youth and community partners within mental health service transformation. Both trust development and sustained engagement are integral to building momentum in developing, implementing and evaluating health systems and service transformation in collaboration with Indigenous youth and community partners. We propose a framework for engaging Indigenous community partners and youth within service transformation. Trust is highlighted as the context, mechanism, and outcome. We conclude with the need to build an evidence base of what works and - and what does not work - in achieving and sustaining trust within the process of engaging Indigenous partners in health system transformation.
Keywords: Community engagement; Indigenous health services; Indigenous research; Indigenous youth; Mental health; Trust.
Indigenous perspectives and community protocols are often overlooked in the development of health research and service delivery. Engaging in meaningful ways with Indigenous youth and community partners in research can lead to better health care access, quality, and health outcomes in health care, that are more aligned with Indigenous youths’ needs. This paper examines the development of a national research network called ACCESS Open Minds. This network includes youth, families, clinicians, community members, decision-makers, and academics, all working to transform youth mental health services in Canada. It describes how Indigenous youth and community partners have been involved in transforming health systems and services. The focus is on the network’s past and current efforts to engage Indigenous partners, providing a critical view of developing and maintain partnerships. The paper highlights key activities and reflections that are essential for building trust and sustaining engagement with Indigenous youth and community partners in mental health service transformation. Trust and sustained engagement are crucial for making progress in developing, implementing, and evaluating health systems and services in collaboration with Indigenous communities. The paper proposes a conceptual framework for involving Indigenous youth and community partners in service transformation, with trust being a central theme. It concludes with a call to build evidence on what works in achieving and maintaining trust in engaging Indigenous partners in health system transformation. Engaging Indigenous partners in health service transformation: A framework for sustained engagement built on trust.
© 2025. The Author(s).