Aboriginal Mental Health Crisis in Canada

The most important thing we can do is become aware of the issues that indigenous Canadians face, such as their struggle with mental illness and addiction. If Canadians were able to first show that they understand the discrimination faced by First Nations, it would be a huge step rathering than keeping the issue hidden where nobody will be willing to admit it. We are encouraged to build healthy communities and relationships with our First Nations neighbours, get involved in aboriginal community events, and ensure that they are equally included in the broader community conversations and events. We have the ability to reverse some of the extreme discrimination and marginalization that these people have been faced with, simply by including them and getting rid of the mentality we are any different.  We must recognize that we are all human and it is our duty to help each other, especially as the indigenous community is such an important part of Canada. Buying aboriginal is a good way t...

There are many organizations and initiatives, both government and community-run, in place to help heal the aboriginals in Canada from their past traumas and current mental illnesses. Health Canada supports community-based suicide prevention projects and activities such as mental well-being and reducing risk factors that contribute to First Nations and Inuit youth suicide, through the Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy. This initiative is led by Health Canada’s First Nations and Inuit health branch, and is developed in partner with indigenous organizations (Government of Canada, 2016). Another government program, the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program, helps set up and operate addiction programs to reduce and prevent alcohol, drug, and solvent abuse in aboriginal communities, and aims to fund First Nation and Inuit-run initiatives (Tahirali, 2016).  Figure 15. Government of Canada Figure 15. Government of Canada logo. Adapted from  "Global Affair...

Aboriginal people have a natural and holistic view of mental wellness, meaning to be in a state of balance with one’s family, community, and the larger environment. Culture and spirituality are the frameworks of treatment developed by First Nations and Inuit communities, and both family and community have key roles in helping people to regain their sense of balance (Khan, 2008). Due to this, European models of treatment that remove the person from their surroundings do not tend to work for this group, one of the reasons why this issue is so difficult to solve. While some government policies and initiatives are well intentioned, others are motivated by the condescending attitude that failed to recognize the independence of the aboriginal people and the richness of their culture (McGill University, 2001). In a recently released Social Progress Index, Canada is ranked second amongst all nations for its tolerance and inclusion, however, our racism and discrimination is hidden deep within t...

Bible: Figure 11. Bible quote on social justice Figure 11. Quote from the Bible, Proverbs 31:8-9. Adapted from "Social Justice Quotes", (n.d.),   Pinterest, retrieved from https:// www.pinterest.com/source/ caseychappell.com. Reprinted without permission.  1 Peter 5:7 in the Bible states to “cast all your anxiety on him, because He cares for you” (NRSV). This quote reminds us to look to God during times of struggle, something that is especially important for people with mental illness to remember. Aboriginal people, however, have had their culture stripped of them, most likely hurting their spiritual life and leaving them struggling to find comfort and strength through their faith. Galatians 3:28 also says that “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; f...

Figure 10. Catholic social teachings Figure 10. Seven themes of catholic social  teaching. Adapted from "Catholic Social  Teaching (Social Doctrine of the Church",  (n.d.), Franciscans , retrieved from http:// www.franciscans.ie/catholic-social-teaching -social-doctrine-of-the-church/. Reprinted  without permission.  There are a number of different Catholic Social Teachings that are being violated through the mental health crisis among aboriginals. The first is human dignity, as the Church proclaims that life is sacred and the dignity of a person should be the main focus for society. The lives of aboriginals are to be held just as sacred as our own, but instead, their culture rooted in indigenous traditions and spirituality is widespread with suicide, mental illness, and addiction, causing a loss of this precious life. As stated in community and the common good, the way that we organize in society directly affects our human dignity and ...

Aboriginal people, throughout their history, were never free of disease or social problems. It is believed that their mental health crisis in their community is caused by the imposition of European culture and loss of indigenous culture, lifestyle, and self-determination. The crisis is also associated with poverty, discrimination, and ongoing colonization of the First Nations communities in Canada. These issues began as early as the 16th century when European explorers and colonists introduced the indigenous population to infectious disease, warfare, and the active suppression of their culture and identity. They continued into the 1800s when many aboriginal cultural and religious practices were banned, and the people of their communities were viewed as unable or unready to participate in the government until they civilized like the rest of Canadian society.  (McGill University, 2001) Figure 8. Aboriginal child living in poverty Figure 8. Child poverty rampant among First Na...

In communities vulnerable to mental illness such as the indigenous peoples in Canada, there often comes addiction and substance abuse as people try to mask or cope with the negative emotions they are feeling. Around 75% of aboriginal residents feel that alcohol use is a problem in their community, while 33% indicate it as a problem within their own household or family. Another 25% were able to admit to having a personal problem with alcohol (Khan, 2008).  Figure 6. Aboriginal vs. non-aboriginal Security Risk Subscale Figure 6. Percentage within group scoring high-risk on Security Risk Subscale. Adapted from "FORUM on Corrections Research", by Correctional Service Canada, (2015), Correctional Service Canada, retrieved from http://www.csc -scc.gc.ca/research/forum/e143/e143d-eng.shtml. Reprinted without permission.  As for drugs, 27% of First Nations have used marijuana, compared to only 14% of the Canadian population (National Aboriginal Heal...

Manitoba First Nation Declares State of Emergency over Suicide Epidemic On March 9, 2016, a remote Manitoba First Nations community in Cross Lake declared a state of emergency after six suicides in the previous two months, and 140 attempts in the previous two weeks. This left the small community of 8,300 extremely traumatized and in need of immediate help from the provincial and federal governments. This particular reserve has a high unemployment rate of 80%, and an interviewed resident spoke about how traditional lands are regularly transformed into floodways and none of the promised economic development and employment programs have come into place. Alvin Fiddler, Grand Chief of the NAN (Nishnawbe Aski Nation), which represents 49 First Nations communities, stated “there is something terribly wrong with the delivery of the healthcare and public healthcare in the north”. His was one of the communities to undergo the state of emergency, and he reported that children as young as 10...

What many people fail to realize or even turn a blind eye to is that there are serious concerns about mental illness and social ills such as substance abuse, suicide, and violence among the vast majority of aboriginal communities in Canada. The reality is that suicide and self-inflicted injuries are the leading causes of death among First Nations youth and adults under the age of 44 (Kestler-D'Amours, 2016). A study found that nearly a quarter of First Nations adults reported contemplating suicide at some point in their life, in contrast to the 9% of Canadians from the general population who had similar thoughts. This study also found that approximately 20% more First Nations adults reported moderate or high levels of psychological distress (Tahirali, 2016).  Figure 2. Suicide rates among First Nations, Inuit, all Canadians Figure 2. Suicide rates per 100,000 of population among  all Canadians,  Inuit, and First Nations. Adapted from "Aboriginal Mental Health: T...

In Canada, the term aboriginal or indigenous refers to Metis, Inuit, or First Nations. These people were the original inhabitants of the land that is now Canada, and there are currently about 1.4 million aboriginal people living in multiple communities and reserves around the country. They make up the largest share of population of 2 of the 3 territories - Nunavut and Northwest Territories. Approximately 22% of aboriginals live in Ontario, while around 15% live in each British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. (Statistics Canada, 2016) Figure 1. Graph showing distribution of aboriginals in Canada Figure 1.  Map of aboriginal identity and location in Canada. Adapted from  "Aboriginal Identity Population", by Government Canada, (2011), Indigenous  and  Northern Affairs Canada , retrieved from https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca /eng/1370438978311/1370439050610. Reprinted without permission.