April 7, 2017
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) announced that it has launched a mobile mental health crisis response team during a youth and leadership conference on mental health in Winnipeg March 30.
The team is being supported through three-year interim funding of $10 million that the federal government announced in June of last year as part of $69 million in spending to support mental health initiatives across the country, inducing four crisis response teams, an increase in mental health wellness teams from 11 to 43, along with increased training opportunities and a 24-hour culturally safe crisis line.
MKO will also fund wellness teams over the next two years with the money.
“We know that many of our people are suffering, not all are able to access the mental health support they need and we have lost too many of our loved ones to suicide and other tragedies that stem from trauma,” said MKO Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson in a March 30 press release. “With these new supports for Manitoba First Nations, there will be an efficient and coordinated, First Nations-led response to crises, and continuous work to improve mental health and wellness for our people.”