The Mental Wellness Team pilot project An example of collaboration Health and Social Services Forum for the First Nations, Quebec January 29, 2014

Context  Project funded by the National Anti- Drug Strategy  Project is the result of collaboration between FNIH, the FNQLHSSC and the MSSSQ  Two pilot communities

The pilot communities Lac Simon Kitcisakik Population: 1500 Located 32 km from Val-d’Or Population: 450 Located 92 km from Val-d’Or

Phases of the pilot project Planning phase  Consultation among the local partners and population  Consultation among external partners Implementation phase  Implementation of the team  Implementation of the MWT services

General mandate and roles of the mental wellness team Strengthening wellness and autonomy among the pilot communities by implementing culturally-appropriate mental health prevention, promotion and intervention services while supporting existing programs and services.  Offering services to the population  Providing clinical supervision, support and training to the local resources  Working in collaboration with the internal teams and external partners

The mental wellness team  Interdisciplinary team (4 members): Clinical advisor Mental health worker Social worker Cultural worker  First Nations and mental health expertise

Action strategy  Community development approach 1.Community mobilisation 2.The cross-sector concerted approach 3.Commitment on behalf of local and political leadership 4.Individual, organisational and community empowerment  Services to be offered established according to the needs expressed by the communities and the external partners

Organisational structure External partners (Public and community network) Outer circle to inner circle: FNQLHSSC – Health Canada Band councils of Kitcisakik and Lac Simon Local follow-up committee Kitcisakik and Lac Simon health directors Mental Wellness Team Communities of Kitcisakik and Lac Simon Youth, adults, Elders and families

Concerted actions  Ongoing improvement committee: Kitcisakik and Lac Simon health centres, CSSSVO, Valpabem, Normand Centre, MWT  Creation of a mental health consultation slip: allows for facilitating information exchanges when a community member consults the emergency services of the Val-d’Or hospital in a crisis situation  Nomination of liaison agents in the communities in order to establish linkages with the regional Abitibi- Témiscamingue child psychiatry services: facilitates service continuity when a child from the communities receives a referral for child psychiatry services

Concerted actions  Traditional cultural activities: Forest retreats, Sharing Circle, sweat lodge, etc.  Clinical inter-community networking: Tool exchanges, collaboration between workers, etc.  Training: Medicine wheel, mental health first aid, etc.

Upcoming concerted actions  Alternative justice committee in the community of Kitcisakik  Working groups with the CSSSVO: Improving the services provided to Aboriginal people who access the Val-d’Or hospital emergency services  Formal mental health protocols – dependence between the communities and the Quebec network

Challenges encountered Inter-community  Different service organizations  Constant evolution of the needs  Anishinabe cultural practices that are specific to each of the communities  Staff turnover

Challenges encountered Cross-sector  Lack of knowledge regarding the Anishinabe culture among the off-reserve partners  Lack of knowledge regarding the structuring of the public network among the communities  Discriminatory prejudices on both sides  Language  Staff turnover

Possible solutions for successful collaboration  Maintaining a communication network among the communities and between the communities and the external partners  Liaison work through a liaison agent  Training on Aboriginal culture  Identification of contacts among each of the organisations  Signed formal collaborative agreements

Community standing from a regional perspective Community member involvement in regional events (Regional Forum on Mental Health, Symposium on Suicide Prevention, etc.)

Thank you! Have a nice day! Annie Duciaume MWT Clinical Advisor Lac Simon and Kitcisakik Tel.: Fax: