A Path Forward
A Path Forward: BC First Nations and Aboriginal People’s Mental Wellness and Substance Use is a 10-year plan developed in 2013 by the First Nations Health Authority, Province of BC, federal government, BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres and the Metis Nation BC.
Indigenous Cultural Competency Training
The Provincial Health Services Authority offers three streams of online cultural competency training, designed to increase Aboriginal-specific knowledge, enhance self awareness and strengthen skills for any professional working directly or indirectly with Indigenous people:
- Core Indigenous Cultural Competency Training – of particular interest to non-health professionals working in organizations such as justice, policing, child and family services, education, business and government.
- Core ICC Health Training – designed for health authority, Ministry of Health, and other professionals working in the health care field. It includes the foundation provided in Core Training with an additional two modules that focus on health care issues
- Core Indigenous Mental Health Training – uses the foundations in the Core Training, with an additional two modules that focus on mental health issues.
Canadian Best Practices Portal – Aboriginal Ways: Tried and True
Developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Aboriginal Ways Portal compiles links to credible resources and solutions to plan programs for promoting health and preventing ill-health in Aboriginal communities. Interventions posted on this site are based on best available evidence of successful public health interventions occurring in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. All interventions have been assessed using a culturally-relevant, inclusive, and validated framework.
Network for Aboriginal Mental Health Research
An information centre for Aboriginal mental health research based at the Culture and Mental Health Research Unit (CMHRU) of the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.
Mental Health Programs for Aboriginal Peoples in Canada
This programs database describes existing mental health promotion, prevention and intervention programs and models for Aboriginal peoples in Canada. The database was developed through a scan conducted for Health Canada.
Childhood Health and Wellness Resource Booklets
The ultimate in supporting mentally healthy families, these are four beautiful resource booklets about healthy children and families designed for First Nations and Metis parents and caregivers in BC by the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health and the First Nations Health Authority in 2013, and updated in 2019. The four topics featured are Growing Up Healthy, Family Connections, Parents as First Teachers and Fatherhood is Forever. All of the resources are grounded in Indigenous knowledge and traditional approaches to parenting and send the message that “Even if you did not have the parenting that you wanted or needed, you can become the parent your child needs.”
Mental Health and Aboriginal People Research Papers
The National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health has also published a series of papers on mental health and Aboriginal People. Published in 2015, the papers provide an overview of current knowledge, prevalence, health impacts, and treatment options within an Aboriginal context. Topics include post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders and depression.