Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Each of the regions in the province has developed in partnership with the health authority a crisis protocol, and in that crisis protocol there is an opportunity not only to have the 24-hour crisis line responding, but also to have RCMP, education, mental health services, both ours and the health authority services brought in.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  One of the things that we're looking at is a life course model. For example, on the health promotion, population health point of view, we're looking at young parents and helping them to parent better, to maintain programs in schools that are free from bullying, and that present cultural activities and language and some of the other things so that self-esteem is built up very strongly in the community.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There's also risk. In some individuals it may be the family members who are part of the problem. It takes some sensitivity in working with an individual in crisis to know, and to ask, who their supports are, who the positive people in their lives are, and have a conversation about communicating with them.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Ideally, yes, that happens. Does it happen every time? No.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's really interesting because that community where the treatment occurred was on a island, and the island used to have a residential school on it. That's the building they're using so in some ways all things come around. There have been several circumstances over the last while where a single elder has gone out to the island with individuals in crisis and stayed out there for weeks at a time, but there isn't a formal program anymore.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That sounds like a Ph.D.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think the mandate is as many as possible, recognizing that it took 13 years for me to finish my training. I don't know, Patricia's probably close to the same amount of time. Having people come out of whatever it was in communities that challenged them in the first place to become strong enough, and then to go through a program, takes time.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  One thing we're working on with our health authority partners is increasing the amount of communication. We have been very limited. I won't go through the technicalities, but between a public system and a private system, with regard to privacy legislation, it gets very complex. Often community health services, even if there is a mental wellness worker in the community, aren't informed that somebody in the community has gone to the hospital, is suicidal.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's very common for our folks...the terminology we use is at home and away from home, and we're working very hard with our partners to help work with the community members who are away from home. Like me; I'm here in B.C. my family are all in Manitoba, but there may be other ways to support me through some of the programs like the aboriginal patient liaison program.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Oh no, it's more than that, we're almost 60 now. One of the other things that happens through the first nations health benefits program, or NIHB, in transition, is that there's also some money for mental health crisis support. Unfortunately, it only allows for 10 one-hour sessions for individuals.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I couldn't quote numbers for each of the regional health authorities. They each have a mental wellness or a mental health department much more clinically focused. I do know that our youth wait an average of six months to a year for services from that side of the world, and that treatment beds and beds for individuals in mental health crisis are very difficult to access.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  How many resources...?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Specifically on mental health?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  My name is Shannon McDonald. I am a Nishnawbe Métis from southern Manitoba and I live as a guest on the territory of the Coast Salish people in Victoria. Prior to joining the First Nations Health Authority a year ago, I had worked for the Ministry of Health in B.C. as the executive director of aboriginal health, and prior to that as a regional medical officer with Health Canada.