One of the things we've heard in our testimony, and I found in my own experience as a physician as well, is that there is a correlation between mental illness and drug addiction. We know there are many people who suffer from mental illness, who then go on to experiment with drugs, self-medicate with drugs, and consequently become addicted to drugs. This causes its own problems, and also actually makes treatment of the underlying mental illness more of a challenge. This becomes a bit of a vicious cycle with people from all populations, not just indigenous ones.
In regard to the indigenous population, the Government of Canada has made some substantial funding commitments in mental health over the next few years, for non-indigenous as well as indigenous people. Right now, part of that commitment means almost $120 million for mental health for indigenous people over the next five years.
Do you believe that will help address the roots of one of the issues that are getting people in indigenous groups into problems with drugs? Again, I'll allow everyone on the panel to answer that.
Ms. Morin Dal Col.