Aboriginal Mental Health 

Aboriginal Mental Health is one of the provincial-wide programs under AMHB. Aboriginal Mental Health was established as a priority of AMHB in 2000 with its inclusion in the business plan and the staffing. Currently, the Aboriginal Mental Health team consists of a Director and three Coordinators who work together with the Wisdom Committee, executive and staff, community agencies and communities to build capacity and support the development of mental health services in Alberta, especially for Aboriginal people.

Aboriginal Mental Health Fact Sheet

For Aboriginal people, it is important that mental health is approached within a holistic wellness context where “health means balance and harmony within and among each of the four aspects of human nature: physical, mental (i.e. mind), emotional, and spiritual. Holistic wellness in Aboriginal cultures is inseparable from emotional, physical, mental and spiritual health. Mental illness is an outcome of the lack of balance or harmony in one or more areas.”  #1

Meeting the mental health needs of Aboriginal people is a major opportunity and challenge. Mental health is a particular concern in Aboriginal communities not because Aboriginal people have higher rates of severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, but “because so many show signs of low level, yet debilitating disturbances…the indicators of this are the high rates of alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, accidents and violence, as well as educational failure, unemployment and incarceration…”  #2

Many factors have contributed to the situation of Aboriginal peoples. "Prior to European contact, Aboriginal societies were strong and self-sufficient. While Aboriginal peoples were never conquered, the process of colonization resulted in loss of control. Policies of displacement and assimilation (e.g., residential schools, separating children from their parents and community, the forbidding of the use of their language, the banning of social and spiritual practices) deprived Aboriginal peoples of their traditional, social, economic and political power. Aboriginal peoples are now re-establishing control through a process of healing, negotiation and partnership." #3  Aboriginal Mental Health is part of the capacity building and healing process in Alberta.

In 2000, the Alberta Mental Health Board (AMHB) committed support and resources to Aboriginal Mental Health, through the creation of an Aboriginal Wisdom Committee whose membership includes Elders and key individuals from First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities.

“To promote the improvement of the well-being of the mind, body, spirit and emotions of Aboriginal children, adults, families and communities through Aboriginal culturally appropriate promotion, prevention and treatment services within the mental health system in Alberta. A responsive and accountable mental health system, recognized as a provincial and national leader, actively supports First Nations, Métis and Inuit individuals, families and communities in pursuit of their aspiration from health and well-being.” – AMHB Wisdom Committee Vision Statement 2004 (Aboriginal Mental Health Framework 2006).

The Provincial Mental Health Plan (2004) advocated a Provincial Aboriginal Mental Health Framework, and the AMHB Aboriginal mental health team, in collaboration with Aboriginal communities, regional health authorities, ministries and Health Canada developed the Aboriginal Mental Health: A Framework for Alberta.

AMHB Aboriginal mental health works to identify and reduce barriers to the mental health system for Aboriginal people. It supports cross-regional and cross-ministry Aboriginal initiatives, including:

• Aboriginal community and capacity development;
• Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy;
• Telemental Aboriginal Speakers Forum, educational sessions; and
• Aboriginal Wellness Promotional Strategies.