The need for a mental health solution for indigenous people

We know healing from Intergenerational trauma is essential for Indigenous people and without healing reconciliation simply cannot be achieved. Providing opportunities for healing to Indigenous people using a colonial-counselling model is too expensive and ineffective. The talent pool for all needed therapists, simply does not exist. We know without healing, relationships might be toxic, family relationships can be abusive and long-term work tenure is often impossible.

To build and automate a new self-directed Mental Health Management System that will allow Anishnabeg Outreach (AO) to automate pathways that will heal intergenerational trauma, we need to raise 3 million dollars. Learn more about the need for this system and our hope for its impact in Indigenous communities below.

Lack of healing from Intergenerational trauma also results in the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in social support systems

50% of our local homeless population is Indigenous.

50% – 75% of children in care are Indigenous.

30% of prison populations nationally are Indigenous, with that number being as high as 50% in many women’s prisons.

500% higher school dropout rates for Indigenous youth.

Children in care often transition from one system to another system, where they often represent 50% – 80% of those populations including the various shelter systems.

Canada’s Current Mental Health System

Canada currently has created a system of life-long support for our most vulnerable populations which means it is very difficult to get out of these social support systems and impossible without healing and training for employment. The maintenance of these systems cost Canadian taxpayers 10s of billions of dollars annually. If we can provide the tools to help Indigenous people heal and provide opportunities for employment specific training, Canada could save 10s of billions of dollars annually. These annual funds could be used more broadly to address specific issues such as, helping our retiring parents who will need to rely on the healthcare system more than ever.

In 1971, the worker to retiree ratio was 7:1. In 20 years, the ratio will be 2:1 due to the mass retirement of the baby boomer population. This will impact services, pensions, healthcare, and long-term care. Providing services to this valuable population of retirees who are also our older family members, will cost 10s of billions of new dollars per year.

How our self-directed Mental Health Management System can Help

Anishnabeg Outreach (AO) has created a process to deliver healing that is self-directed and based on the questions asked by psychologists and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers during counselling. Our Mental Health Management System also helps establish good communication practices, boundary setting, helps establish healthy relationships, builds spirit and resilience, and looks at root cause to address deep root issues so, healing can take place. This program provides a process to work through various mental health challenges including but not limited to; grief, guilt, anxiety, anger, addiction, abuses and traumas, bullying, isolation, family issues, etc.

Access to this system is urgently needed to help Indigenous people heal to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people living in Canada.