Advancing Indigenous Mental Wellness

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, an opportunity to honour and celebrate the diverse cultures, histories, and achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.

It’s also a time for reflection: on the truths of our shared past, the resilience of Indigenous communities, and the work still needed to advance reconciliation and equity. National Indigenous History Month invites all of us to recognize the leadership, knowledge, and strength of Indigenous Peoples, past, present and future.

This month, we highlight CAMH’s continued commitment to supporting Indigenous communities on the path to mental wellness—through respectful partnerships, culturally grounded care, and community-led initiatives.

CAMH Resources for Indigenous Communities:

• Spaces and Places: Dedicated sacred places supporting truth and reconciliation at CAMH

• Art of Healing: CAMH and Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) have come together to form a multi-year partnership and launch a new program that supports First Nations, Inuit, and Métis patients at CAMH through storytelling and musical composition.

• Workforce Development & Education: Accredited, culturally-informed training for Indigenous mental health providers and community helpers across Ontario. Virtual and in‑person training, co-designed with Elders and Knowledge Keepers; accredited by the Indigenous Certification Board of Canada.

• CAMH Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan: In May 2021, CAMH launched the CAMH Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan, a three-year plan that includes 14 commitments to build stronger relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people at CAMH by the end of fiscal year 2023/24.

• Build your medicine bundle: Understanding your mental health journey: This document informs how a Medicine Wheel is used to show how different areas of our well-being are connected and are equally important.

CAMH Services for Indigenous Communities:

• Shkaabe Makwa Clinical Services: Outpatient counselling and group therapy for adults (18+) who self-identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis.

• ECHO Ontario First Nations, Inuit & Métis Wellness Program: A free, virtual program designed to build a community of practice among Ontario-based providers serving Indigenous clients, blending medical and Indigenous knowledge.

• Northern Psychiatric Outreach Program at CAMH (NPOP-C): This program provides patients and families with direct psychiatric consultation and care in rural/remote communities in Northern Ontario.

CAMH Services for All Communities:

• Ontario Psychiatric Outreach Program (OPOP): This service provides high-quality psychiatric outreach and clinical and educational services to under-serviced areas of Ontario.

• Social Determinants of Health (SDH): The Social Determinants of Health (SDH) Service works in the areas of housing, income, employment, and education.

• Suits Me Fine: Suits Me Fine is a clothing boutique open to all CAMH clients.

• Pharmacy: A community pharmacy open to everyone, including all CAMH clients, staff, and other non-CAMH patients.

• Family Service: The Family Service provides treatment and support services to anyone who is concerned about the substance use of someone else.

Supporting Indigenous-Led Healing

As we honour National Indigenous History Month, we are reminded that healing is possible—through community, culture, and connection. It is happening in ceremony guided by Elders, in culturally rooted, community-led care, and in growing partnerships that centre Indigenous knowledge in mental health.

Wellness thrives in spaces where Indigenous voices lead, where traditional practices are respected, and where community is at the heart of care. Through programs like Shkaabe Makwa and partnerships grounded in culture, we are walking alongside Indigenous communities to build systems of care that honour their realities.

Through programs and partnerships, CAMH is helping to create spaces where healing is possible—strengthened by identity, culture, and belonging.