By Peguis Free Spirits News
A new study published in The Lancet Public Health has shared some important but sad news about mothers and their children. The study, which looked at families in Manitoba from 1998 to 2022, found that when child protective services take a child away from their mother, it can cause very serious health problems for the mother.
The researchers found that First Nations mothers are much more likely to have their children taken away than other mothers. In Manitoba, about 27% of First Nations mothers in the study had a child removed, compared to only about 4% of other mothers.
Why This Matters
The study shows that losing a child to the "system" is more than just a family emergency—it can actually lead to mothers getting very sick or even dying much younger than they should.
According to the study, "child removal was associated with preventable deaths in mothers, with the highest risk of death observed in First Nations mothers." This means that many of the health problems these mothers face could be stopped if families were given more help to stay together instead of being separated.
The researchers also found that most of these deaths were from "avoidable" causes. This is a fancy way of saying these deaths did not have to happen. They were caused by things like extreme sadness, stress, and not having enough support.
Working for Change
For communities like Peguis, this study is a reminder of why it is so important for First Nations people to lead their own programs to help families. When First Nations people run these programs, they can focus on keeping families together and keeping mothers healthy.
The study concludes that these findings "should accelerate action for First Nations-led interventions to support and preserve families."
By working together and supporting our mothers, we can make sure every family has the chance to stay strong and healthy.
Quick Facts from the Study:
- Time Period: The study looked at 24 years of records in Manitoba.
- Who was included: Over 16,000 First Nations mothers and 77,000 other mothers.
- The Big Lesson: Taking children away hurts mothers' health, and we need better ways to help families stay together.