The Culture of Well-being

1 The Culture of Well-being GUIDE TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES For First Nations, M tis & Inuit people in Winnipeg. EDITION 4, 2014. CONTENTS. 2 USING THIS GUIDE 6 DIRECTORY OF HELP. 6 aboriginal ORGANIZATIONS. 2 MENTAL HEALTH IN aboriginal Culture & COMMUNITY SUPPORTS. 2 THE people 6 aboriginal & Community Supports 7 Community Health Clinics 2 EFFECTS OF COLONIZATION AND 7 Mental Health Services RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS 8 Self-Help Organizations 8 ADDICTION SERVICES. 2 MENTAL HEALTH ACROSS CULTURES 9 Addiction Self-Help Group 2 MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE COMMON 9 COUNSELLING SERVICES 9 Finding a Councillor 3 WHAT IS MENTAL ILLNESS? 10 CRISIS SERVICES. 3 PATHWAYS TO HEALING 10 Crisis Services for Children, Teens or Young Adults 10 Crisis Services for Adults 3 PROMOTE AND PROTECT MENTAL HEALTH.

2 11 HOSPITAL EMERGENCY SERVICES. 4 Culture , SPIRITUALITY AND TRADITIONAL HEALING. 11 PERSONAL RIGHTS. 11 SPIRITUAL SUPPORT. 5 HELP WITH HEALING. 12 TRADITIONAL HEALING. 12 WEBSITES. GUIDE TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. For First Nations, M tis & Inuit people in Winnipeg. USING THIS GUIDE. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority aboriginal Health Programs in collaboration with the Regional WHAT IS MENTAL ILLNESS? LEARN MORE. Mental Health Program has put together this guide to assist First Nations, M tis, and Inuit peoples find All people have times of feeling down or sad, have trouble The Mental Health Education Resource Centre of Manitoba is mental health care information and services within Winnipeg. If someone is experiencing mental health concentrating, talk out loud to themselves, or have a thought in a public lending library of resources including books, print problems or emotional health concerns, this guide will provide information on types of services available mind and can't get rid of it.

3 These things are normal. materials and videotapes on a wide range of topics on mental in Winnipeg and how to access the various services. When a person is mentally ill, these kinds of feelings, thoughts and health and illness including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance use disorders and suicide prevention. behaviors are extreme and get in the way of the person's ability to go about their day. Phone: 204-942-6568. Toll Free: 1-855-942-6568 Many cultures do not use the words mental illness to describe when a person has emotional problems. Instead they may describe how a person has changed in mood, thoughts or behaviors, or changed in For more information on mental health resources see the Mental how he or she relates to others.

4 Health Resource Guide for Winnipeg published by the Canadian Mental Health Association. Examples of some possible changes Phone: 204-982-6127 or go to their website to download a copy at or problems in behavior: MENTAL HEALTH IN Sleeping too much, or not able to sleep at all aboriginal Culture Not keeping clean and cared for Avoiding social contact and previously enjoyed activities PATHWAYS TO HEALING. Laughing or crying inappropriately aboriginal peoples of THE people INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS RESOLUTION Talking in ways that don't make sense There may be many different reasons why a person experiences Canada are defined The aboriginal community is an important part of Manitoba's HEALTH SUPPORT PROGRAM disharmony or imbalance.

5 Pain, hurt, rejection, disappointment Strange movements or behaviors (such as: talking according to the Canadian and loneliness may cause a person to experience mental health heritage and future. Over 15% of Manitoba's total population and out loud to no one; rigid or unusual body positions). Constitution Act (1982) as The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support 10% of Winnipeg's total population consider themselves First Unable to control behavior (such as: can't stop problems. For some people , working through these painful feelings Indian (First Nations), Program provides emotional health and wellness support to Nation, M tis or Inuit peoples (Statistics Canada, 2008). Winnipeg walking back and forth; sudden violence; washing and experiences is viewed as part of a necessary spiritual journey.)

6 Inuit and M tis people of former Indian Residential School students and their families, currently has the largest urban aboriginal population of the major hands over and over) There are many ways of healing disharmony or imbalance within Canada. The following are regardless of status and place of residence, who are eligible for definitions specific to each cities in Canada. the Common Experience Payment and /or resolving an IRS claim the aboriginal Culture . Some people use ceremonies, guidance from aboriginal group: Although there is great diversity among the 64 First Nation through the Alternative Dispute Resolution process, Independent Examples of some possible changes Elders, wholesome nutrition, meaningful activity, and connection Assessment process or litigation.

7 Or problems in feelings or mood: with family and the land as part of their pathways to healing process. communities within Manitoba in their usage of language, First Nations Eligible former students and their families may have access to: Extreme feelings of feeling great and excitement ceremonies, religious beliefs, and community traditions, holistic Descendants of the Angry, scared or suspicious for no logical reason Worldview of wellness remains a priority among most groups in maintaining Professional Counselling original inhabitants of Extreme sadness or hopelessness, sometimes Mental Health: their cultural strength into the future. Emotional Support provided by Resolution Health North America. Although leading to thoughts or talk of suicide the term First Nation Support Workers Sudden emotional changes and mood swings Mental wellness is a lifelong is now widely used, there EFFECTS OF COLONIZATION AND journey to achieve wellness Cultural Support provided by Elders Unable to feel or express happiness is no legal definition for RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS Assistance with the cost of transportation or interest in anything and balance of body, mind it.

8 (Indian and Northern Many issues facing the aboriginal community today stem from and spirit. Mental wellness Affairs Canada, 2005). the long history of colonization. First Nation families were deeply For more information on how to access these services contact: includes self-esteem, Manitoba Regional Office at 1-866-818-3505 located at Examples of some severe changes hurt by the government policy of sending their children away to personal dignity, cultural 3rd Floor, 391 York Avenue, Winnipeg or visit: or problems in thoughts and perceptions: M tis residential school, which began in 1874 and continued until the last identity and connectedness in M tis means a person who or Hearing, seeing, smelling things that aren't there the presence of harmonious school was closed in 1996.

9 Self-identifies as M tis, is Approval from Health Canada must be obtained before treatment Unrealistic or mistaken beliefs (such as: people physical, emotional, mental of historic M tis National The purpose of residential schooling was to assimilate aboriginal are trying to kill you; a movie star is in love with you; and spiritual wellness. Mental begins. A crisis line is available to provide immediate emotional Ancestry, is distinct from community children into mainstream Canadian society by assistance and can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: you are God or a famous person) wellness must be defined disconnecting them from family and communities; cutting all ties Having certain thoughts constantly and not being other aboriginal Peoples 1-866-925-4419 in terms of the values and and is accepted by the with languages, customs, and beliefs.

10 The separation of children able to stop or change the thoughts beliefs of aboriginal people . M tis Nation (M tis from their families and traditional Culture had a devastating and Serious inability to concentrate or unable to connect (First Nations and Inuit National Council, 2002) long-lasting effect on the aboriginal community. Many young thoughts together in a sensible way Health, Mental Wellness adults that came back after being in residential schools had been MENTAL HEALTH ACROSS CULTURES Constant and extreme worry or anxiety Framework, 2002). Inuit traumatized by the separation and some by physical, mental and The aboriginal people of Being mentally healthy means feeling a sense of control over one's If someone is experiencing these changes or problems, it is sexual abuse they had been exposed to in the schools.