Caroline Cochrane, Premier of the Northwest Territories, and Julie Green, Minister of Health and Social Services, met with the team from Supporting Wellbeing to congratulate them on receiving the Council of the Federation (COF) Award for Innovation in Mental Health and Addictions Care.

The award is presented by Premiers in each province and territory for innovative initiatives that positively impact mental health and addictions care in their respective jurisdictions. Each award winner also receives a $5,000 prize to advance their initiative.

Supporting Wellbeing is an emerging training program that aims to provide tools and resources to better prepare land-based programming providers to respond to mental health challenges that occur on the land.

Quote(s)

“Mental health and addictions challenges continue to impact many Canadians. Being on the land is very important to residents of the Northwest Territories. Our traditional knowledge, languages, and cultural practices are all connected to the land. Culturally appropriate and trauma informed approaches are key to helping residents with their mental health and addictions challenges given the prevalence of trauma experienced because of colonization Supporting Wellbeing will help to eliminate barriers and provide opportunities for more people to go out on the land and know that they will be supported.”

- Caroline Cochrane, Premier of the Northwest Territories

“We hear repeatedly that healing work on the land is an important step toward to address the intergenerational traumas of colonization. Having locally trained staff to offer this healing is essential. I congratulate Supporting Wellbeing for this award, which recognizes the group’s innovative response to the need for trauma-informed training and programs in mental health and addictions care.”

-Julie Green, Minister of Health and Social Services

Quick facts

• The Council of the Federation enables Premiers to work collaboratively, form closer ties, foster constructive relationships among governments, and show leadership on important issues that matter to Canadians.
• Supporting Wellbeing is a training program that will provide tools for land-based programming providers. The program will better prepare service providers to mitigate and respond to mental health challenges in remote environments during on the land programs.
• During training, leaders will be exposed to several topics when planning and delivering trauma informed on the land programs, including intergenerational trauma, suicide intervention, conflict resolution, and participant aftercare.
• Supporting Wellbeing will strengthen the overall efficacy of on the land programs across the NWT.

Related links

•  Award for Innovation in Mental Health and Addictions Care
• Council of the Federation News Release on award recipients
• Supporting Wellbeing Program

For media requests, please contact:

Todd Sasaki

Manager, Public Affairs and Communications

Department of Finance

Government of the Northwest Territories

todd_sasaki@gov.nt.ca