Made-in-Nunavut Mental Health Act adopted – Nunavut News

MLAs hailed a made-in-Nunavut Mental Health Act, passed in the legislative assembly Monday, that emphasizes Inuit-based approaches.

“I also support this bill because those with mental illness are often confronted and treated like criminals and many others who are mentally distraught are often just taken to jail or dealt with through corrections without any kind of support and we seem to be going in circles when it comes to people with mental health issues,” said Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet MLA Cathy Towtongie. “This bill is a new bill and IQ (Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit) is very much a part of this.”

Health Minister Lorne Kusugak said the new act opens the door to greater involvement of family and friends as it better reflects Inuit societal values and aims to reduce suicides. There will be provision for the selection of a representative – known as a tikkuaqtaujuq – who makes decisions on behalf of a patient unable to choose treatment options for himself or herself. There is also a requirement to consult the tikkuaqtaujuq “at various points during the client’s mental health care journey and to notify them that certain events have taken place, for example, following a suicide attempt,” said Kusugak.

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