Is Canada’s Mental Healthcare System Failing Indigenous Peoples? | Mind Games

Credit: TVO Today

Concerns over Canada’s mental healthcare system for Indigenous people living in Canada sparked a two-year investigation conducted by TVO, the Investigative Journalism Bureau (IJB) and the Toronto Star. TVO Investigates Mind Games examines alleged failings of mental health services provided to Indigenous and Inuit communities, including red tape, long wait times, and cultural insensitivity

Through personal stories and expert interviews, TVO, the IJB, and Toronto Star journalists reveal gaps in Canada’s Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program for Indigenous Peoples. The journalists interviewed over 60 current and former clients, therapists, physicians, and Indigenous mental health advocates, many of whom described a “broken” system that, they claimed, sometimes does more harm than good. The investigation uncovered how barriers in the system impact those dealing with trauma and colonial history.

The investigation revealed that fewer than a third of NIHB-approved mental health providers had experience working with First Nations and Inuit communities. Some providers were found to have troubling histories, including allegations of cultural insensitivity and sexual misconduct.