Introduction to Online Survey: Mental Health Effects of Hate Crimes in Alberta
Welcome to StopHateAB’s survey consent form! Please read to the end of this page to provide consent and start the survey.
We are conducting this survey to better understand the mental health impacts of hate crimes against racialized individuals and communities in Alberta. The information you share through this survey 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). Participants must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Identify as racialized
- Live or have lived in Alberta
- Have experienced a hate crime/incident.
While the survey is being offered 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?
This survey 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 your ideas about services and supports related to mental health following hate crimes/incidents.
We will ask some questions about your identity, such as your gender and age, but you do not have to answer these questions if you do not wish to. We are asking these questions to better understand the different life experiences (for example, gender or age) that may impact how hate crimes/incidents affect people differently.
You Can Withdraw from the Research
You can withdraw your responses from the research even after you have completed the survey by contacting the Research Lead, Anne Miller, and asking to have your responses removed. Anne can be reached by phone at 403-923-7611.
The survey will ask you to create a unique code as your unique anonymous identifier so that we can remove your responses later, if needed. Please take note of the unique identifier code you create, in case you’d like to withdraw your responses.
Your Survey Responses Are Confidential
Your survey responses are private and will be kept in a secure database that only members of the research team can access. Your name and contact information will not be collected as part of this survey.
An analyzed dataset from the survey will be transferred to Stop Hate Alberta for secure storage upon completion of the research. Your individual survey responses will be destroyed within one year of the completion of the research. Because this survey is anonymous, you cannot be identified in any reports from this study. Survey responses will be analyzed as a group, not individually. 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. We encourage you to avoid sharing any information that would even potentially identify you. Any information that could even potentially 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 Report
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
The survey will ask you to reflect on the impact of hate crimes/incidents that you experienced which may be upsetting for you. Please note that you are free to skip any questions you do not feel comfortable with or do not wish to answer. If you feel upset during or after completing the survey, please connect with one of the following resources. We will also remind you of these resources after the survey is finished.
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
Research Ethics
This project has been reviewed and approved by the Community Research Ethics Board. If you feel you have not been treated according to the descriptions in our information, or your rights as a participant in research have been violated during this project, you may contact the Chair, Community Research Ethics Board, at: Centre for Community Based Research | Attn: Community Research Ethics Office | c/o Conrad Grebel University College | 140 Westmount Road North, Waterloo ON N2L3G5 or by email: [email protected]
