Strengthening Our Practices and Partnerships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples

CAMH outlines plan to better meet the mental health needs of Aboriginal people.

TORONTO, June 20, 2016 –  Over the past 18 months, CAMH has engaged Aboriginal leaders, organizations, service providers and communities as well as Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff at CAMH to develop Guiding Directions: A plan to strengthen our practices and partnerships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

Guiding Directions has four primary directions intended to:

• build our internal capacity and structures
• improve collaborative partnerships
• enhance culturally responsive clinical support and
• support capacity development, research and knowledge exchange.

Recently, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission identified “a need to establish measurable goals to identify and close the gaps in mental health outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities”. CAMH is determined to build on our work to date and work collaboratively to close the gaps and improve the lives of future generations.‎

“CAMH understands that historical injustices and trauma continue to affect the lives of many Aboriginal people,” says CAMH President and CEO, Dr. Catherine Zahn. “We recognize that as a teaching hospital, we have a responsibility to address the health equity issues that exist, and to support First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities through our clinical, research, education and system-improvement mandate.”

Dr. Renee Linklater, Director of the Aboriginal Engagement and Outreach says Guiding Directions will serve as a roadmap for CAMH moving forward.

“CAMH aims to provide mental health and addiction services and clinical supports that are respectful and culturally competent, and that promote community-driven and community-directed approaches,” says Dr. Linklater. “Guiding Directions will help inform CAMH when developing policy, programs, research agendas, training and clinical services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.”

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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada’s largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital and a world leading research centre in this field. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental illness and addiction. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. For more information, please visit www.camh.ca or follow @CAMHnews on Twitter.

Media Contact:
Kate Richards,
CAMH Media Relations
(416) 595-6015 or media@camh.ca