First Nations Health Authority Releases New Mental Health and Wellness Policy

2/15/2019

Updated approach developed based on hundreds of recommendations from First Nations communities across BC

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The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) has released a new policy outlining its vision for mental health and wellness a year after hosting its inaugural Mental Health and Wellness Summit, where FNHA first publicly shared the commitment at the core of the new Policy. Through the Policy FNHA has committed to working with partners to ensure access to a comprehensive continuum of mental health and wellness approaches. The Mental Health and Wellness Policy will support the FNHA, First Nations, and health system partners to plan for mental health and wellness from First Nations perspectives.

"We heard from our communities that a system-wide paradigm shift is needed to support the ongoing wellness, self-determination and resilience of our Nations and families," says Joe Gallagher, FNHA CEO. "Bringing this policy to life will support increased self-determination of First Nations and transform approaches towards mental health and wellness throughout BC."

First Nations communities, families and individuals in BC have clearly and consistently indicated that mental health and wellness is a top priority. To address this, the new policy was created, informed by both the First Nations Perspective on Health and Wellness, and extensive engagement with First Nations people and communities.

Drawing on what the FNHA heard from BC First Nations, the new policy focuses on existing capacities to affirm, facilitate and restore the mental health and wellness of First Nations people in BC, recognizing that First Nations have lived healthy lifestyles that fostered wellness since time immemorial. The policy thus aims to celebrate the wellness and resilience of First Nations, while also acknowledging the deep and ongoing impacts of colonialism.

"The FNHA takes a two-eyed seeing approach to mental health and wellness, striving to bring together the best of traditional First Nations knowledge and western knowledge," says Dr. Nel Wieman, FNHA Senior Medical Officer. "By honouring our traditional knowledge and cultural teachings alongside western models of care, we can find a balance within our physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional wellness."

A priority of the policy is to build awareness among health system partners on the need for equitable access to high-quality, culturally humble and safe, trauma-informed and de-stigmatized mental health and wellness care for First Nations people, wherever they are living.

The policy lays out a vision for mental health and wellness for First Nations in BC, including a comprehensive continuum of mental health and wellness approaches, to be implemented in conjunction with FNHA's partners across the health system.

"The Mental Health and Wellness Policy statement, guided by First Nations, provides commitment and direction that will aid our ability to support mental wellness across all five regions," says Richard Jock, FNHA COO. "We will work together with our health partners to ensure the service areas are integrated throughout our systems of care."

Five key action areas are identified to support this commitment to transformation in mental health and wellness:

  1. Prioritize wellness and shift the focus to enhancing the conditions for mental health and wellness and addressing root causes.
  2. Culture and traditional healing and wellness approaches as foundations.
  3. Improved quality of programs and services.
  4. Integrative system design and service delivery.
  5. First Nations self-determination including Nation-based and Nation-rebuilding approaches.

Read the Mental Health and Wellness Policy here:

FNHA's Policy on Mental Health and Wellness (PDF 1.18 MB)