World Mental Health Day 2020: Video

Transcript

Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations: Kwe, Tansi, Ullukkut, Bonjour, greetings!

Please join us this Mental Illness Awareness Week in celebrating, protecting and promoting mental health. This is an important time to raise awareness, to end stigma and the discrimination associated with mental illness and those seeking help. Indigenous populations have faced the intergenerational impacts of Canada's colonial legacy: abuse, systemic racism, discrimination, displacement, the denial of culture and language, inequities in health, wellness, and socioeconomic factors have increased mental health challenges for individuals and for communities as a whole.

Mental illness affects all of us, challenges faced by our families, our friends, our co-workers, and us directly. We all must play a role in promoting a better understanding of emotional and psychological distress and often its relationship to childhood abuses. We all need to know how we can guide those suffering to optimal mental health services.

This is a time to reflect on the path to mental wellness, kindness, and the importance of giving and being able to receive support through times of trouble and joy. Together we can create a world where everyone feels safe sharing their feelings and is able to access the care and support they need. A world that understands that wellness is body, mind and spirit.

Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services: Mental wellness has long been a priority for Indigenous populations. A priority that is shared by the Government of Canada.

Indigenous leaders, communities and have told us that mental wellness is about balance, hope, belonging, meaning and purpose. It's about culture, language and equity. It's about healthy and safe children, youth, Elders, families and communities.

It is also about addressing the significant trauma caused by Residential Schools, federal Day Schools, Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls, policies of the Indian Act and many other legacies of colonization. It's about speaking up about the racism, discrimination, and violence Indigenous peoples face on a daily basis. It's about recognizing the devastating consequences that those heinous acts, combined with intergenerational trauma, can have on Indigenous peoples and committing to breaking this pattern.

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Indigenous-led innovations and solutions to improving the lives and well-being of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs: Mental health affects all of us and that's why we need to talk about it. Having an honest conversation, sharing our stories with compassion and with openness – these are ways we can make it easier for people to reach out and get the help they need. Yet too often, fear of stigma makes people suffer in silence. Mental Illness Awareness week is a chance to change that.

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing stress, despair and fear for families across Canada, including those in Indigenous communities. No one should have to feel hopeless because they can't get the support they need.

Indigenous peoples' traditional way of life is a source of resiliency. The connections to family, to Elders, to culture, tradition, history, and community make First Nations, Métis and Inuit strong.

We need to take every opportunity to recognize our strengths and successes and raise awareness about mental illness and mental wellness. And to let people who are struggling know that help is available.

Need to talk someone? The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate crisis support to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. Call now at 1-855-242-3310. Or go to hopeforwellness.ca to connect with a counsellor on-line.

Thank you, Merci, Meegwetch, Qujannamiik, Marsi, Mahsi Cho.