Question Period Note: Suicide Crisis

The loss of life from suicide is a tragedy beyond measure.
I would like to thank the Member for raising this very important issue.
(My condolences are with the community and family)
We must work with Indigenous communities, partners and experts to advance Indigenous-led approaches to mental wellness.
However, we know that the roots of suicide in Indigenous communities also derive from a range of social inequities, and we continue to work to improve education, employment, housing, and community infrastructure that contribute to overall community wellbeing.

Indigenous people in Canada are at a greater risk of experiencing complex mental health and substance use issues due to a variety of factors, including the intergenerational effects of residential schools and other consequences of colonization. Suicide is a significant concern in some communities, particularly in the North and in remote areas. States of emergency have been declared in several communities due to mental health and social crises.
Addressing the root causes of high rates of Indigenous youth suicide requires a holistic, whole of government approach that supports individual, family and community healing; addresses the legacy of residential schools, the sixties’ scoop and other devastating impacts of colonization; and supports access to the social determinants of health such as self determination, employment, and housing.
The responsibility for delivering mental health services is shared by the federal and provincial/territorial and Indigenous governments. The federal government supports First Nations and Inuit community mental wellness through a number of programs and services. Specifically, through the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, ISC supports and funds mental wellness programs and services in five key areas: community based mental wellness services; the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program; the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program Mental Health Counselling Benefit; the First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Helpline; and Jordan’s Principle – A Child First Initiative.
This fiscal, $425 million has been allocated to address the mental wellness needs of First Nations and Inuit. Since April 1, 2018, over $205 million dollars of requests for Mental Health services for First Nations children have been approved through Jordan’s Principle. Since the beginning of the Hope for Wellness line (October 2016) until the end of September 2019 there have been 16,480 calls. Since April 2018 to the end of September 2019 there have been 2,296 Chats.

If pressed on actions taken

We are deeply concerned about the tragic loss of life from suicide in many Indigenous communities.
We have seen success in supporting Indigenous-led approaches to mental wellness:
• 63 community-led mental wellness teams are serving 344 communities, up from 11 teams in 2015.
• Nearly 22,000 high-risk youth and children have benefited from the Choose Life Initiative in Nishnawbe Aski Nation.
• We provide support for a 24/7 Hope for Wellness Helpline and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s National Inuit Suicide Prevention Strategy.
We will continue to work with partners to advance Indigenous-led approaches to mental wellness.

AFN ‘National Youth Suicide Strategy’

We are deeply concerned about the tragic loss of life from suicide in many Indigenous communities, especially among youth.
As I said at the AFN’s Special Chief’s Assembly, I share their goal of addressing mental wellness as an urgent priority.
We will work in partnership with Indigenous peoples to advance Indigenous-led approaches to mental wellness, as we did with NAN when they developed the successful Choose Life Initiative.
We will be a willing partner for all those who are looking to develop solutions to this pressing issue.

Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation

I am deeply concerned about the situation in Sheshatshiu, and my thoughts are with the community as they heal during this difficult time.
As an immediate response, funding has been put in place for ten additional youth workers, eight security officers to provide twenty-four hour support, and two other support positions within the community.
We will continue to work with community leadership to mobilize culturally appropriate mental health services.

God’s Lake Narrows

My deepest sympathies and condolences are with the families and community in this tragic time.
Departmental health teams continue to work closely with partners in Manitoba to coordinate augmented crisis response and mental wellness supports and to mitigate any gaps in coverage during this time.
We are in regular contact with the community and senior departmental officials will be meeting with the community leadership in God’s Lake Narrows today (December 11, 2019).
We will continue working with the leadership to support their response and advance a community-led approach to mental wellness.

Nunavut

We are working in close partnership with the government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated to respond to the mental wellness needs of Inuit in the territory.
Through this partnership, we are contributing $220 million over 10 years through the Nunavut Wellness Agreement for community wellness initiatives.
This fiscal year, $11.6 million in funding has been provided to the Government of Nunavut and community organizations for mental wellness teams and other mental wellness services.

Territories

The health and safety of First Nations and Inuit is one of this Government’s highest priorities.
This year to date, we have allocated more than $31 million to support mental health programming and services in all 72 First Nations and Inuit communities in the three territories.
Territorial Governments are responsible for the delivery of health care in the territories. We continue to work in partnership with them to ensure First Nations and Inuit have access to the culturally safe supports and services they need.