Amy Bombay

Associate Professor


Email: amy.bombay@dal.ca
Phone: 902-494-2225
Fax: 902-494-3487
Mailing Address: 
Room G27, Forrest Building
Dalhousie University
PO Box 15000
5869 University Avenue
Halifax NS B3H 4R2
 
Research Topics:
  • Indigenous peoples' health
  • Intergenerational transmission of risk and resilience
  • Stress
  • Mental Health
  • Cultural identity
  • Historical trauma
  • Racism and discrimination


Biography

Amy Bombay (Anishinaabe from Rainy River First Nations) completed her MA (2008) and PhD (2012) at Carleton University in Psychology and Neuroscience and a 2-year CIHR Fellowship at the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research (2014). In 2014, Amy joined Dalhousie University, being split between the Department of Psychiatry and the School of Nursing. She has led and been involved in various quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods projects in collaboration with Indigenous organizations assessing various topics related to health and well-being among Indigenous peoples. Her primary areas of inquiry have focused on exploring the relationships between historical trauma, contemporary stressor exposure, cultural identity, and health outcomes among First Nations adults and youth. One of her main programs of research has explored the different pathways by which Indian Residential School trauma is transmitted across generations, which has garnered extensive media interest and has been influential in influencing policy and practice related to the health of Indigenous peoples.

Memberships

  • Consultation Committee on Child Welfare Advisory Committee for Indigenous Services Canada
  • Mi’kmaq Health Research Group
  • Nursing Diversity Committee
  • Department of Psychiatry Research Committee
  • Indigenous Council

Awards & Honours

  • Legacy Award for Excellence in Education for Diversity, Dalhousie University (2020)
  • Named in Top 100 Health Influencers List by OptiMYz magazine (2019 & 2020)
  • President’s Award for the Advancement of Equity, Diversity & Inclusiveness, Dalhousie University (2019)
  • Discovery Award Finalist (Emerging Professional), The Discovery Centre (2017)
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (2012-2014)

Publications

  • Hajizadeh, M., Hu, M., Asada, Y. & Bombay, A. (2021). Explaining the gaps in psychological distress and suicidal behaviours between non-Indigenous and Indigenous adults living off-reserve in Canada: A cross-sectional study. Canadian Medical Association Journal Open, 9(1), E215-E223. https://www.cmajopen.ca/content/9/1/E215
  • Bombay, A., McQuaid, R., Young, J., Sinha, V., Currie, V., Anisman, H., & Matheson, K. (2020). Personal and familial attendance at Indian Residential School and subsequent involvement in the child welfare system among Indigenous adults born during the Sixties Scoop era. First Peoples Child & Family Review, 15(1), 62-79. https://fpcfr.com/index.php/FPCFR/article/view/401