GNWT Releases Report on Results of its Mental Wellness and Addiction Recovery Survey

Press Release

The GNWT has released the results of its 2024 Mental Wellness and Addiction Recovery (MWAR) Survey, which gathered feedback from northerns about their experiences with related services and supports.

The survey was conducted between January and April 2024. To improve accessibility, in addition to the virtual survey option, paper copies with pre-paid return envelopes were distributed through Community Counselling Program Offices and Health Centres across the NWT. Promotion efforts included radio advertisements, posters, social media, digital media, and through postcards that were distributed to NWT households encouraging participation.

A total of 659 respondents completed the survey, an increase of roughly 50 percent over the previous 2021 Addictions Recovery Survey, which received 439 responses.

The 2024 report presents key findings, including patterns in awareness, access, satisfaction, and outcomes across Mental Wellness and Addictions Recovery services as assessed by program and demographic groups.

The survey focused on four MWAR funded program areas:

• Community Counselling Program (CCP)
• Facility-Based Addictions Treatment
• Helplines
• E-Mental Health supports

The survey also asked respondents about the accessibility of healthcare services, peer support groups, community-based supports, addictions aftercare supports, and medical withdrawal management.

Key Findings include:

• Mental health concerns are widespread: Only 24 percent of survey respondents rated their mental health as “Excellent” or “Very Good,” compared to an estimated 59 percent in the general NWT population.
• Awareness of services varies: 61 percent of respondents had heard of the Community Counselling Program (CCP); fewer were aware of other supports like Facility-Based Addictions Treatment (35 percent), Helplines (53 percent), or E-Mental Health options (40 percent).
• Access remains a barrier: Nearly half (46 percent) of respondents had difficulty accessing the CCP. Access challenges were more common among 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, Indigenous respondents, people living in small communities, and those facing financial hardship.
• Satisfaction is generally high: Most people who accessed services felt respected and supported. Satisfaction rates were 84 percent for the CCP and 82 percent for Facility-Based Addictions Treatment.
• Supports are helping: 70 percent of CCP users and 92 percent of treatment centre users said the services improved their overall health and well-being.
• Equity gaps persist: People facing financial hardship, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, Indigenous Peoples, and younger respondents were more likely to report difficulty accessing care and less likely to experience positive outcomes.

While the survey reached a wide range of NWT residents, it is not fully representative of the general population. The feedback provides important perspectives on how different groups experience recovery services and will inform efforts to make programs more inclusive and responsive. The survey’s results will be used in the continuous quality improvement of the Mental Wellness and Addictions Recovery system. Regular updates featuring key findings from the survey will continue to be issued and shared with the public.

The report can be viewed and downloaded at: https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/sites/hss/files/resources/mwar-survey-key-findings.pdf

For media requests, please contact:
Andrew Wind
Manager, Communications
Health and Social Services
Government of the Northwest Territories
HSSMedia@gov.nt.ca
(867) 767-9052 ext. 49034

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