Indigenous Mental Health

The beautiful lands that we live on belong to those whose ancestors originate from our country. Their land was stolen, their children were stolen, and their sisters continue to be stolen. These haunting actions on their people are major contributions to extreme mental illness. Suicide rates within Indigenous groups in Canada are three times higher than the National average. A high rate of suicide amongst them is evidence of inadequate resources, and studies show that 64.2% of residential school survivors have/had experienced post-traumatic stress disorder. To list a few contributions of mental illness they witness firsthand;

-Historical Trauma

This is a subcategory of intergenerational trauma, in which a cultural, racial, or ethnic group is affected with major-event oppression. This complex trauma stems from incidents such as residential and day schools, the sixties scoop, and the removal of Indigenous children from their communities. Other happenings that affect Indigenous mental health could be medical testing, racism, the Indian Act and its resultant inequalities, land apprehension, and state negligence.

-Lack of Housing and Clean Water

The Indigenous that we know and love face a very harsh lack of housing and clean water in Canada, an extreme crisis which is due to negligence. This leads to serious mental and physical health complications. Here’s a list of a few examples on key impacts of this crisis:

1. Health issues - The water in their pipes are often exposed to contamination which allows their drinking water to lead to waterborne illnesses, and many other long-term health concerns.

2. Economic Burden - with having to spend a significant amount of funds on bottled water for basic necessities like drinking and cooking, this impacts budgets largely and prevents them from purchasing other basic necessities.

3. Mental Health - The stress and frustration of not having access to unexposed tap water can take a great toll on one’s mental state.

4. Cultural Disruption - Without clean water, Indigenous practices such as fishing, hunting, and traditional ceremonies may be difficult to achieve due to one’s access to filtered water.

5. Overcrowding and Inadequate Housing - reserves with limited housing options allow for intense overcrowding living conditions. These factors further contribute to poor lifestyles, health problems, and even mental illness due to overwhelming stress. 

While there is some access to mental health resources, it is limited, and Indigenous communities are in need of more long-term intensive, and non-crisis response support.

Some existing resources include;

-The National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy (NAYSPS)

-Mental health counselling through the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program

-Jordan’s Principle

-The Inuit Child First Initiative

-Support services for those affected by the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls

-Phone and chat lines (Hope and Wellness Helpline 855-242-3310 or hopeforwellness.ca)

Did you know?

Your status card can get you access to free therapy. Each year, any eligible client can receive up to twenty two hours of counselling given by eligible providers on a fee-for-service basis. 

There is help, but we need to unite as a country to bring truth and reconciliation to light. Reaching out is a step of bravery and we must do all that we can to enlighten the journey.