Victoria – Indigenous Peoples face multiple barriers in accessing adequate mental health and substance use care, primarily due to systemic racism stemming from colonial practices and policies like residential schooling. The Government of Canada is committed to addressing disparities across our universal healthcare system and ensuring that all Indigenous Peoples have equitable access to compassionate, trauma-informed, and culturally-based mental health and substance use resources.
Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced close to $13 million in funding to nine organizations across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, for their projects to support the mental health of Indigenous individuals and communities. These projects aim to promote positive mental health by strengthening cultural connections, supporting culturally informed mental health resources, and providing peer support. The projects will provide support tailored to Indigenous youth, urban Indigenous communities, Indigenous healthcare and frontline workers, and Indigenous women.
The Government of Canada will continue to work in partnership with Indigenous leadership, all levels of government, partners, stakeholders, and organizations in communities across the country to improve health outcomes, increase access to adequate mental health and substance use supports, and foster healthcare systems free from systemic racism and discrimination where Indigenous Peoples feel respected, safe, and heard.
“Indigenous Peoples in Canada are at a higher risk of experiencing mental illness, and face unacceptable intersecting barriers in accessing mental health and substance use services and supports. Our government is taking action to close those gaps and support indigenous leadership in prevention and healing. I thank the organizations receiving funding today for their inspiring work integrating culturally grounded resources into mental health supports, and increasing engagement within their communities.” – Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, and Associate Minister of Health