MKO’s responds to Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth with Addictions Report

November 28, 2024

Treaty One Territory, Winnipeg, MB – The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth’s recent report highlights critical gaps in the province’s youth addictions services, especially for Indigenous youth. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak fully supports the report’s call for immediate reform and a shift toward more effective, culturally appropriate, and trauma-informed care. Indigenous youth, who are disproportionately affected by substance use, also face complex mental health challenges, histories of trauma, and systemic barriers rooted in colonization and racism. As the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #1 notes, “We call upon governments to commit to reducing the number of Aboriginal children in care, and to providing adequate resources for family support services,” emphasizing the need for a holistic, culturally grounded approach to support Indigenous youth.

In Manitoba, mental healthcare needs are high, and youth in rural and remote areas have not been receiving the mental health, addictions, and substance use (MHASU) care they require. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association’s 2024-2025 report, “Suicide is the leading cause of death for youth ages 10-17 and the suicide rate among Indigenous people is 4.6 times higher than the rest of the province.” While Manitoba has a current MHASU strategy for improving services, it remains “weak on timelines, evaluations, and accountability.”

The current youth addiction system fails to meet the diverse needs of our young people. There is a lack of integration between substance use, mental health, and trauma care. For Indigenous youth, the situation is even more dire due to the geographic isolation of many communities and a lack of services that are culturally sensitive. Too often, Indigenous youth are forced to leave their families and communities to access care, which can deepen their trauma. The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice #1.7 states, “We call upon all governments to adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation.” This declaration stresses the need for services that respect the rights, culture, and dignity of Indigenous peoples, particularly in healthcare.

To truly support our young people, services must be designed with their needs, experiences, and cultural backgrounds at the forefront. This requires developing care models that are community-driven, culturally safe, and grounded in culturally appropriate ways of healing. Youth need services that not only address substance use but also provide holistic support for their mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Additionally, we must move away from systems that criminalize youth and instead focus on preventative, supportive approaches. As the report highlights, many youth only learn about available services after becoming involved in the justice system—something that must change. Early, accessible support is essential to help youth heal before they become entrenched in cycles of addiction or incarceration.

We call on the Manitoba government to take immediate action by implementing a youth-focused addiction strategy that prioritizes the needs of our province’s youth. This strategy should ensure increased funding for community-based, culturally relevant services, provide training for service providers on cultural safety, and create more integrated, trauma-informed care systems that respect a young person’s lived experiences.

The Manitoba Advocate’s report is a crucial call to action. We must listen to the voices of Manitoba’s youth and ensure that their needs are at the center of reforms. By creating a more inclusive and culturally competent system, we can address the youth addiction crisis and help them heal, thrive, and reclaim their futures.

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For more information:

Naomi Clarke, MKO Communications

Phone: 204-612-1284

Email: naomi.clarke@mkonorth.com

Web: https://mkonation.com/

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