The Ontario government is investing over $2.6 million to connect Indigenous communities to more mental health and addictions supports, closer to home.
“Our government recognizes the importance of Indigenous-led, culturally appropriate services,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “We are continuing to take action to ensure Indigenous communities across northern Ontario have access to safe and effective mental health and addictions services closer to home.”
The over $2.6 million in funding to the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), which represents 49 First Nations and approximately 45,000 Indigenous people, includes:
- $1 million for Keewaytinook Okimakanak, which leads the NAN Hope program that provides community-driven, culturally appropriate services, and supports surge capacity to address urgent mental health and addictions needs across Nishnawbe Aski Nation Territory.
- $623,500 for NAN mental health supports in First Nations schools located in Thunder Bay and Sioux Lookout, in response to the Seven Youth Inquest.
- $500,000 for NAN IHWS Crisis Teams through the Indigenous Healing and Wellness Strategy (IHWS), which provides an effective, coordinated approach to crisis response in communities.
- $500,000 for NAN to purchase vehicles and further develop their mobile crisis response teams, allowing them to connect more remote Indigenous communities to mental heath and addictions services.
“The funding we are recognizing today will ensure children and families in Nishnawbe Aski Nation and surrounding areas have more access to the mental health and emergency supports and programming they need, closer to home,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs. “Through continued collaborations with First Nations communities and organizations, our government is committed to improving overall mental health and well-being for Indigenous children and their families across Ontario.”
Today’s investment supports Ontario’s Indigenous Healing and Wellness Strategy (IHWS) and is one more step the government is taking to deliver on its 30-year joint commitment between Indigenous partners and the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs to support the healing, health and wellness of Indigenous communities.
“Our government is pleased to support initiatives developed by and for Indigenous partners that ensure that comprehensive and culturally responsive supports are in place to address the unique needs of each community,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “Through this investment, Nishnawbe Aski Nation can be better equipped to improve the health, healing and well-being of Indigenous people living with mental illness or addiction.”
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