Province providing funds for mental health and addictions supports in Indigenous communities.
The money will be utilized for urgent trauma supports for residential school survivors and their families, as well as Indigenous-led student, youth, and gender focused services.
More than $20-million of this investment will go towards Indigenous focused mental health and addiction assistance for residential school survivors.
The other $16-million is devoted to investments into Indigenous services in line with the Roadmap to Wellness.
Include is money for culturally adapted youth and mental health supports for students, Indigenous-specific victim services, and the development of an Indigenous driven opioid strategy after an increase in use and deaths since the start of the pandemic.
“I think it’s fair to say that we understand the pandemic has disproportionally impacted Indigenous peoples, especially those living with mental health and addiction challenges,” explains Minister of Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford. “Access in First Nations and urban Indigenous communities has been limited and we hope today we’re taking a powerful and important step forward to change that, and that’s why Indigenous partners have proved to be so important in coming to an understanding of how we can best provide those services.”
Rickford stressed the importance of Indigenous led initiatives that are community driven are crucial in best providing these supports.
“I only hope that we do carry on how we’ve been working from here forward, because again, the people we represent are watching and listening to us,” said Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare. “We know that the needs are the greatest at the community level, and at all the communities across Ontario. We need to sit with the leadership and listen to them, because they are the ones that are fighting everyday. They look to us for days like this any many more I hope.”
