Canada’s First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework presents a shared vision for the future of First Nations mental wellness programs and services and practical steps towards achieving that vision
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) announced on January 28, 2015 the release of a national framework addressing mental wellness among First Nations in Canada. According to the AFN, federal, provincial, and territorial mental wellness programs and services do not currently meet the needs to address the mental wellness challenges faced by many First Nations communities, resulting in a gap in care. The First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework [opens to PDF document] identifies ways to enhance service coordination among various systems and support culturally safe delivery of services.
Mental wellness is a balance of the mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional. This balance is enriched as individuals have: purpose in their daily lives whether it is through education, employment, care giving activities, or cultural ways of being and doing; hope for their future and those of their families that is grounded in a sense of identity, unique indigenous values, and having a belief in spirit; a sense of belonging and connectedness within their families, to community, and to culture; and finally a sense of meaning and an understanding of how their lives and those of their families and communities are part of creation and a rich history. — First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework – Summary Report
Framework the result of extensive collaboration
The Framework is the result of extensive collaboration that began in 2012 among the AFN, Health Canada, and community mental health leaders, including the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation and the Native Mental Health Association. The process included a comprehensive mapping of existing mental health and addictions programming that identified gaps and ways to address and avoid them.
Culture is the heart of the framework, emphasizing First Nations strengths and capacities. It identifies a continuum of services needed to promote mental wellness and provides advice on policy and program changes that will enhance First Nations mental wellness outcomes.
Service integration essential to success
Service integration among federal, provincial and territorial programs is central to its success. The Framework provides guidance to enable communities to adapt, optimize and realign their mental wellness programs and services based on their own priorities.
Shared ownership of the Framework was achieved through extensive collaboration throughout the process, and by listening and responding to community voices at every stage of development. The First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework is a shared vision among the Assembly of First Nations, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation and for the future of First Nations mental wellness programs and services.
First Nations people are taking our health into our own hands, but achieving the envisioned continuum of mental wellness will require sustained leadership, commitment and collaboration by all parties. We look forward to continued leadership and support across the continuum of care and among provincial, federal and territorial programs. — Assembly of First Nations Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy
Collaborative mental health care conference presentation
Elder Reg Crowshoe of Treaty 7 Management Corporation speaks in Calgary on June 19, 2015
A group of people involved in the implementation of mental wellness programs among Aboriginal groups presented their experiences to a conference devoted to developing collaborative mental health care on June 19, 2015 in Calgary, Alberta. People First Radio was there and we’re going to share their presentation in full on our broadcast this week.
Coreen Everington, from First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada and Marilyn Willier of 3 Eagle Wellness Society, Sucker Creek First Nations, in Calgary on June 19, 2015
Dustin Twin, an Elder with Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta, presents in Calgary on June 19, 2015
We share presentations by Jennifer Robinson (Assembly of First Nations), Coreen Everington (First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada), Marilyn Willier (3 Eagle Wellness Society, Sucker Creek First Nations), Reg Crowshoe (Treaty 7 Management Corporation), and Dustin Twin (Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta) from the 2015 Collaborative Mental Health Care Conference.
Jennifer Robinson, a policy analyst with the Assembly of First Nations, introduced the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework to conference delegates in Calgary on June 19, 2015
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More about the collaborative mental health care conference
The Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Care Conference is the leading national conference focused on research and innovations in collaborative mental health care and addictions service delivery within primary care. The program will feature presentations in five topic streams: innovation, prevention, measurement-based care, mental health initiatives in the Patient’s Medical Home (PMH) and systems integration.
A collaborative approach between mental health providers and primary care ultimately improves access and outcomes for patients and helps address efficient use of resources. The conference has the potential to impact the delivery of primary and community-based care, the design of services and the composition of health care teams, research into mental health and addictions, advocacy efforts, public policy and the overall approach to mental health and addictions within the health care system.
The 2015 conference was held in Calgary, Alberta from June 18th to 20th. The 2016 conference takes place from June 16th to 18th in Kelowna, B.C.
audio | First Nations mental wellness @2015_CCMHCC #mentalhealth #ccmhcc @AFN_Updates http://t.co/A9Mj4bHivi pic.twitter.com/Zs9WqJpsuR
— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) September 11, 2015
