On February 1, 2007 the Alberta Mental Health Board (AMHB), in cooperation with the AMHB Wisdom Committee, launched Aboriginal Mental Health: A Framework for Alberta.
Aboriginal Mental Health: A Framework for Alberta provides a vision for Aboriginal mental health in Alberta. The purpose includes:
- To provide background information and described factors that influence the unique and complex needs for mental health services and supports that will serve the various Aboriginal groups.
- To develop a mental health document that reinforces and reflects the Aboriginal Policy Initiative.
- To provide strategic direction for service providers that will be beneficial in the development of services to the Aboriginal communities of Alberta.
- To coordinate and facilitate joint service planning, service delivery, capacity building, innovation, research and evaluation. (AMHF 2006).
Aboriginal Mental Health: A Framework for Alberta provides five Strategic Directions for Action which serves as a foundation for joint action planning in the development and implementation of resources, supports and services to advance Aboriginal mental health. The Strategic Directions include Service Development, Human Resources, Research and Evaluation, Equitable Funding, and Data Collection and Information.
Stakeholders involved in the Framework include Aboriginal people, Alberta’s health regions, First Nations and Métis organizations, researchers, Health Canada, Alberta International, Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Relations, other government ministries and the AMHB Wisdom Committee.