EL MENSAJE JESUÁNICO DE LA MISERICORDIA DIVINA
4.2. El evangelio de Jesús sobre la compasión del Padre
mental health.
The recommendations contained in the three distinct streams of this Strategic Direction are relevant to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, regardless of where they live. There are also additional issues that need to be addressed. The unique mental health issues faced by people living in northern and remote communities (includ- ing First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) were examined in Strategic Direction 4. This priority focuses on the particular mental health challenges faced by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis in urban and rural areas, as well as on a number of complex social issues that require specific attention.
The latest census shows that more than 50 per cent of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people live in urban and rural centres, with considerable movement to and from their home communities (typically these include First Nations reserves, remote Inuit communities, and smaller Métis communities).259 In bigger cities and towns there
is a strong sense of community that draws First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people together, either collectively or within their own cultures.
The reasons for moving from smaller communities to larger cities and towns will be familiar to anyone in Canada who has made a similar choice: better access to economic opportunities and employment; better access to health and other services; the appeal of an urban lifestyle; and in some cases the chance to leave a bad situation. For many, this choice does lead to improvements in key protective factors for mental health, such as better access to education and employment.260 Unfortunately, a substantial portion of First Nations, Inuit, and
Métis living in urban and rural centres continue to live in poverty, particularly single mothers.261
The mental health of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis in urban and rural centres has also been affected by the process of colonization and intergenerational trauma. Even within larger urban centres, there are problems with access to services such as long waiting lists, lack of transportation, as well as lack of awareness and understand- ing of the differences in cultures between service providers and those receiving services.
Increased access to a full continuum of mental health services, treatments and supports is important. Services must be culturally safe, and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people living in urban areas should be encouraged and supported to pursue careers in mental health. Increased capacity is needed to deliver services through both mainstream and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis organizations that are often under-resourced. In particular, more capacity is needed to deliver specialized services that integrate traditional, cultural, and mainstream approaches and can address complex issues.
More research is needed to deepen our understanding of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis mental health issues in urban and rural centres, and to inform the development of an urban and rural mental health and substance use
dential schools. The statistics for violence against First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women and girls are particularly alarming, including high rates of extreme, life-threatening violence, stalking, and homicide. In some communities, up to 90 per cent of women are victims of violence.262 The many causes of violence are systemic and include
poverty, racism and discrimination, intergenerational impacts of colonization and residential schools, and higher levels of involvement in the child welfare and justice systems.263 Services and supports need to focus on com-
munity and family healing (including healing for both men and women) and promoting a better future for the next generation.
Estimates suggest that 30 to 40 per cent of children living in out-of-home care in Canada are Aboriginal, yet Aboriginal children represent fewer than five per cent of children in Canada.264
To address the over-representation of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children and youth in the child welfare system, broad policy changes are required. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis need to be involved in processes that affect their children. Services should be culturally safe and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis approaches to child welfare, based on respecting language and culture, need to be incorporated into all aspects of the child welfare system, including prevention, early intervention and support to families in crisis. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis families who adopt or provide foster care need to be fully supported to do so. Access to cultural activities, trad- itional teachings and extended family should be available whether the child is ‘in care’ or adopted.
The number of Aboriginal women incarcerated under federal jurisdiction increased steadily from 84 in 1999-2000 to 157 in 2008-2009, an increase of 86.9 per cent in the last 10 years. The increase in incarcerated Aboriginal men was 17.4 per cent over the same period, rising from 2,095 to 2,460. In 2008-2009, Aboriginal offenders represented 17.2 per cent of the total federal offender population while Aboriginal adults represent 4.0 per cent of the Canadian adult population.265
Over-representation in the criminal justice system is also a challenge for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, regard- less of where they reside. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis offenders tend to be younger, to have health problems (including mental health problems), to have gang affiliations, and to be convicted numerous times.266 Although
efforts have been made to ensure that the justice system is more responsive to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis mental health needs, there is still a need for improved access to diversion programs, mental health services in correctional centres, and supports for re-integration into the community. More focus is also required on mental health promotion and mental illness prevention programs for youth to help foster resiliency and healing, and to reduce exposure to the criminal justice system in the first place.