Question Period Note: Indigenous mental wellness and COVID-19

• We recognize that many Indigenous communities face unique challenges in addressing COVID-19, some of which can lead to increased stress.

• The funding announced for Indigenous communities as part of Canada’s COVID-19 response can be used to support access to mental wellness services while respecting physical distancing.

• 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.

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 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, Jordan’s Principle has spent $175.8M on Suicide Prevention, and $358.3M on all Mental Wellness initiatives Since the inception of the Hope for Wellness Help line in October 2016 and up to the end of February 2021, the line has received 53,935 calls and 8,731 chats.

If pressed on actions taken

• We have seen success in supporting Indigenous-led approaches to mental wellness:

• There are 63 new community-led mental wellness teams serving 344 communities.

• And the Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s Choose Life Initiative, benefiting more than 22,000 high-risk youth and children, the 24/7 Hope for Wellness Help Line, and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s National Inuit Suicide Prevention Strategy.

• 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 include wellness in all policies.

If pressed on Budget 2021

• In Budget 2021, we have committed to investing $597.6 million over three years starting in 2021-22 for a distinctions-based mental health and wellness strategy for First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis nation.

• The strategy will renew funding for the Indian Residential Schools Health Supports Program and Crisis Line, which provide healing supports for survivors of childhood trauma and residential schools.

• The government is committing additional funding of $774.6 million over five years beginning in 2021-22 towards continued high-quality care through the Non-Insured Health Benefits program, including mental health services.

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 $224.5 million over 10 years through the Nunavut Wellness Agreement for community wellness initiatives.

• In 2020/21, $19.9 million in funding is being allocated to the Government of Nunavut and community organizations for mental wellness teams and other mental wellness services.

• We will continue to work in partnership to address the needs of Inuit in the territory.

Territories

• The health and safety of First Nations and Inuit is one of
this Government’s highest priorities.

• In 2020/21, we are allocating $35.1 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 work in partnership to ensure First Nations and Inuit have access to the culturally safe supports and services, including on the land activities.

If pressed on COVID-19 and mental wellness in the territories

• We continue to work closely with partners to ensure there is no gap in service in the territories during the COVID-19 crisis.

• In response to COVID-19, emotional and cultural supports, and mental health counselling for former students of residential schools, federal day schools, and their families, and those affected by the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls continue to be available virtually and in person, while respecting physical distancing guidelines.

• In addition, we are supporting Indigenous communities to implement culturally relevant emergency measures to promote on the land physical distancing.

Suicide Crisis

• The loss of life from suicide is a tragedy beyond measure.

• We must work with Indigenous communities, partners and experts to advance Indigenous-led approaches to mental wellness.

• At the last AFN Special Chiefs Assembly, I committed to working with groups like NAN, FSIN, and AFN to support the strategies they bring forward.

• In December 2019, I committed $2.5 million for community-driven mental wellness services and prevention programming in Saskatchewan.

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

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 last 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.