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

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. Thank you! Have a nice day! Annie Duciaume MWT Clinical Advisor Lac Simon and Kitcisakik Tel.: 819-736-2107 Fax: 819-736-2299 annie.duciaume@kitcisakik.ca