Mental Health Effects of Hate Focus Group Registration

Introduction: Mental Health Effects of Hate Crimes in Alberta Research Study
Thank you for your interest in participating in a focus group discussion as part of StopHateAB’s research study on the mental health effects of hate crime in Alberta! Please read to the end of this page to provide your consent and register for a focus group.

We are conducting this research to better understand the mental health impacts of hate crimes against racialized individuals and communities in Alberta. The information garnered through the research will contribute to the first research study on this topic in Alberta and will hopefully help inform policymakers and service providers moving forward.

Our Purpose
The purpose of the research is to learn about the mental health impacts of hate crimes and hate incidents against racialized individuals and communities in Alberta. Ultimately, we are hoping the results from this research can be used to inform the development of policies, laws, and services related to supporting those who have experienced hate crimes or hate incidents in Alberta.

Data collected for this study will not be used for any purposes other than the purpose of the current study and data will not be linked with any past or future studies.

Who Can Participate?
We are seeking to involve up to 100 racialized individuals in Alberta who have experienced one or more hate crimes or incidents (see definitions below). We will host up to 12 focus groups, with each focus group will having 8 to 10 participants. Focus group participants must:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Live or have lived in Alberta
• Identify as racialized
• Have experienced a hate crime/incident

While focus groups for this research are being facilitated exclusively in English, if you wish to participate in another language you can participate in a 20-minute interview in your preferred language. If you would be more comfortable participating in a language other than English, please contact the Research Lead, Anne Miller at 403-923-7611 to schedule an interview in your preferred language.

What Will I Be Asked?
Focus groups discussions will last approximately one hour. In the focus group discussions we will not ask for details about hate crimes/incidents you may have experienced but will ask general questions about the hate crimes/incidents and your actions and experiences related to mental health afterwards. We will also ask for ideas about services and supports related to mental health following hate crimes/incidents.

Focus Groups are Voluntary
Participation in a focus group discussion for this research is entirely voluntary. You have the right to skip any questions that you prefer not to answer or leave the focus group at any time. 

Focus Group Discussions are Confidential
The things discussed in the focus groups are private. Your name and contact information will not be connected with your focus group responses. The contact information collected for the purpose of sending you the focus group registration will be kept separate from your focus group details.

After registering for a focus group, you can withdraw or change your registration by contacting the Research Lead, Anne Miller at 403-923-7611, or not attending the scheduled focus group. 

While you will not be able to withdraw your responses after the focus group discussion, you have the right to remain silent during the discussion once it has started. We ask that everyone who participates in a focus group discussion keeps the content of the discussion confidential out of respect for the individuals involved. We also ask that you refrain from sharing personal identifying details during the discussion.

All of the ‘raw data’ generated through the research (i.e. notes on the focus group discussion) will be destroyed within one year of the completion of the research. A cleaned and completely anonymized data set will be transferred to Stop Hate Alberta for secure storage upon completion of the research.

You will not be identified in any reports from this study. Focus group discussion responses will be analyzed as a group, not individually, and we ask that you refrain from sharing personal identifying information during the discussion. Common themes will be included in reports from the research that will go to the funder (Canadian Race Relations Foundation) and will be shared with the public. The research reports might include anonymous quotes from participants in the study. Any information that could identify a specific person will be removed.

Benefits of Participating
Your participation in this research will contribute to a better understanding of the mental health impacts of hate crimes/incidents in Alberta. The research also hopes to inform improving resources and supports to better meet the needs of racialized individuals and communities who have experienced hate crime/incidents.

Research Partners
StopHateAB is leading the research. StopHateAB (https://stophateab.ca) works to create an Alberta where all people can live in inclusive, safe, caring and respectful hate-free communities. We have partnered with research experts at Constellation Consulting Group to conduct the research study. Constellation Consulting Group (www.constellationconsulting.ca) is a team of researchers who are based in Calgary. They have extensive experience working with different communities across Alberta and are passionate about generating high quality research that contributes effective policies and practices. The research is being funded by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (https://crrf-fcrr.ca/).

Receiving the Results
A report from the research will be posted on the StopHateAB website (https://stophateab.ca) and the Constellation Consulting website (www.constellationconsulting.ca). Please also follow StopHateAB’s social media accounts, sign up for the StopHateAB newsletter, and/or check the StopHateAB website for details of a free public research release event to be scheduled in the weeks following the completion of the study.

Definitions
For the purpose of the research study, we are using the following definitions:

• ‘Racialized individuals or communities’ refers to people negatively impacted by racial meanings attributed to them. This term acknowledges ‘race’ as being socially constructed through racism and racialization.

• ‘Racialization’ is the process through which groups come to be socially constructed as ‘races’, based on characteristics such as ethnicity, skin colour, language, economics, religion, culture, or politics.

• A ‘hate crime’ is a “criminal offence committed against a person or property that is motivated in whole or in part by the suspect’s hate, bias or prejudice towards an identifiable group based on real or perceived colour, ‘race’, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual identity, gender identity or expression, or any other similar factor” (EPS 2019, np.).

• ‘Hate incidents’ are “situations where the actions of an individual or group were motivated by bias, hate, prejudice or racism, but the actions did not rise to the level of a criminal offence. These may include uttering slurs, homophobic bullying, distributing material endorsing hate, etc.” (CPS 2023, np.).

Resources
In the focus group discussions we will ask you to reflect on the impact of hate crimes/incidents that you experienced and which may be upsetting for you. You are free to skip (stay silent) for any questions you do not wish to answer. If you feel upset during or after completing the focus group discussion, please connect with one of the following resources. We will also remind you of these resources at the beginning and end of the focus group discussion.

Evolve Program: The Evolve Program works with individuals and communities who have experienced a hate crime or hate incident, providing a place to share experiences and find support. They provide counselling, resources, advice and advocacy to support people in addressing the emotional and/or social impacts of hate crimes/incidents that can negatively affect well-being. Evolve is a confidential, voluntary, and no-cost program. Phone (toll free): 1-877-938-6580. Website: https://evolveprogram.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) Mental Health Help Line: The AHS Mental Health Help Line is a free confidential phone service that provides support, information and referrals to Albertans experiencing mental health concerns. Phone (toll free): 1-877-303-2642

Distress Centre Calgary & Southern Alberta: The Distress Centre Calgary (DCC) is a free service that provides 24-hour crisis support phone/text line, professional counselling, youth peer support, and referrals. Phone/Text: 403-266-4357 (HELP).

ConnecTeen: ConnecTeen provides youth-specific mental health and crisis support via text and phone. Phone/Text: 587‑333‑2724

If You Have Questions
StopHateAB is working with research and evaluation experts at Constellation Consulting Group to undertake this study. If you have any questions about the research, please contact the Research Lead, Anne Miller at 403-923-7611. You can learn more about Constellation Consulting at: www.constellationconsulting.ca