Question Period Note: Mental Health & Wellness

• We recognize that the current mental health needs of Indigenous communities are a result of social inequities and colonialist injustices that have spanned centuries.

• Our Government is taking concrete steps through investing $425 million annually for community-based services to address the mental wellness needs of First Nations and Inuit.

• We are continuing to work in partnership to advance Indigenous-led approaches to address the social determinants of health.

N/A

If pressed

• While there is more to do, we have seen success in supporting Indigenous-led approaches to mental wellness, such as:
o The increase of 52 new community-led mental wellness teams since 2015, for a total of 63 teams serving 344 communities;

o The Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s Choose Life Initiative that is benefiting more than 22,000 high-risk youth and children.

o The implementation of the 24/7 Hope for Wellness Helpline; and

o The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s National Inuit Suicide Prevention Strategy.

• We continue to work in partnership to advance Indigenous-led approaches to address the social determinants of health.
If pressed COVID-19 & Mental Health Supports
• In August 2020, $82.5M was committed to support Indigenous communities during the next six months of the COVID-19 pandemic for surge capacity and adaptation of critical mental wellness services.

• We are working with partners to implement distance approaches to service delivery such as tele- and video-counselling for substance use services and other existing programs. The Hope for Wellness Help Line continues to offer crisis intervention services by telephone or chat, with surge capacity investments provided for additional counsellors.
Jordan’s Principle & Hope for Wellness Line
• Last year, ISC also funded $172.1 million dollars for requests for mental health services for First Nations children through Jordan’s Principle.

• We also fund the Hope for Wellness Help Line which offers crisis intervention services by telephone or chat. Since its creation until the end of August 2020, there have been 40,116 calls and 6,064 chats reported.
If pressed on restricted access to First Nations communities during COVID-19
• Supporting mental wellness during and after the COVID-19 pandemic is essential.
• Substance use treatment, prevention, and aftercare services are continuing where possible while respecting COVID-19 public health physical distancing measures.
• Counselling, cultural supports, and other forms of treatment are available through telehealth and on-line platforms.
• Treatment centres and community-based programs are also ensuring medication availability for opioid agonist therapy (OAT).
• We will continue to work with partners to ensure mental wellness supports are available for communities.
If pressed on funding announcement on MMIWG & Indian Day Schools:
• The Government of Canada recognizes the lasting impact of colonial policies and persistent discrimination on the lives of many First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals, their families and communities.
• On July 7, 2020, the Government of Canada announced $17.1 million for the continuation of health supports for individuals impacted by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and new health supports for Federal Indian Day Schools Survivors and their family members.
• Access to community-based, culturally-safe mental health services is essential in supporting and providing a path towards healing.