Mental Health

Aiding community members who need mental wellness support. They provide counselling for individuals, couples, families, as well as facilitating holistic care, psychoeducational activities and support groups related to mental health, substance abuse, gender-based violence, and other concerns within the communities. They can also assist with referrals and accessing appropriate programs and services that may not be available within the community.

Providing a safe space for youth to learn life skills, cultural teachings/land-based activities. This program is designed to offer suicide prevention and intervention strategies, as well as counselling. We can provide education about mental health, tools and coping strategies, as well as promote mindfulness, self-care and positive psychology.

Elders in the community are appointed by their council to provide positive mental, emotional and cultural support to community members. To act as first responders in the community during a crisis and can make referrals to mental health and wellbeing workers in the community. Sharing knowledge, stories, providing cultural and land-based activities

Health and Cultural Support Workers provide in-community cultural, emotional and mental health support to those affected by day schools. Providing safe spaces for listening, appreciating, and validation of stories while advocating for healing. Address the mental health concerns and support mental wellness IDS survivors and their family members in a community based, holistic, and integrated manner.

Indian Residential Support – Resolution Health Support (IRS RHS) workers assist in regaining traditional roles and nurturing family bonds. Offer cultural and traditional activities. To bring IRS survivors together when in the KO communities, grief and sharing circles. Provides educational workshops to children and youth of the history of residential schools and the impacts.

Supporting adults with opioid addiction through stabilization, reflection, and connection. Assisting and supporting the process of recovery while strengthening family and community bonds. Providing positive support and encouragement to make healthier life-style choices.

NAN Hope Mental Health and Addictions Support Access Program (“NAN Hope”) is a First Nation-led program offered by Keewaytinook Okimakanak. NAN Hope is designed to meet the specific mental health and addictions support needs of citizens of, and those working and living in, Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) communities.

NAN Hope’s Virtual Care services commenced service delivery in August of 2020 as a partnership between Keewaytinook Okimakanak with the Sioux Lookout First Nation Health Authority and Dalton Associates. It was established specifically to respond to the limited in-community mental health and addiction supports available to NAN communities due to public health restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. NAN Hope Virtual offers a virtual, holistic, rapid-access approach to mental health, addiction, and crisis support that is available 24/7/365 by toll free telephone, webchat, text message, and Facebook Messenger. NAN Hope was originally funded for one year, however, over time it was given an expanded mandate to help NAN citizens cope with the trauma and devastation related to the ongoing recovery of Indigenous children’s bodies at the sites of former residential schools; the crises experienced in Indigenous communities by sudden death and suicide; and the disproportionate displacement of Indigenous peoples due to natural disasters impacting their communities.

After the initial year of the Virtual program some gaps in service were identified and the ‘Surge’ program, or in-community Crisis Response was created to meet NAN community members in times of crisis.