Hybrid summit brought together hundreds of participants to share best practices to support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis mental wellness
September 23, 2022 - Toronto, Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, Ontario - Indigenous Services Canada
A first-of-its kind National Summit on Indigenous Mental Wellness was held September 23, 2022 in Toronto. This summit brought together First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, tribal councils, organizations and leaders, as well as front-line service providers, to share best practices and build new collaborations to improve mental wellness services to Indigenous people.
The event included dozens of presentations that reflected a wide range of projects, initiatives and services from across Canada. Over the course of the day, participants discussed the importance of distinctions-based approaches as well as culture and community for the mental wellness of First Nations, Inuit and Métis populations; the mental wellness workforce that is supporting communities; innovative community-based approaches such as mental wellness teams, life promotion and suicide prevention; Indigenous youth perspectives; and substance use prevention and treatment, including harm reduction.
The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, and the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health & Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, provided opening and closing remarks, and were truly inspired by the day of presentations and discussions of indigenous-led approaches to the challenge of mental wellness.
Over the coming weeks, various summit materials will be made available online to share some of the presentations and outcomes of discussions.
