First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Wellness

Often approaches to wellness focus on medical ways of knowing to the exclusion of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis knowledge, values and practices for wellness. Support for healthcare providers to address mental health and addiction needs in a culturally-relevant way has been identified as a promising approach for the delivery of mental and physical health services in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. 

Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Ontario First Nations, Inuit and Métis Wellness promotes an integrated approach to health and wellness that values medical and Indigenous knowledges. Our vision is that ECHO Ontario First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Wellness will build a community of practice that addresses mental and physical wellness from the perspective of wholism, and support primary and community care providers in their support of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis clients/patients.

Cycle 4, launched in October 2020, will address mental health throughout the life cycle over 12 sessions split into a fall module and a winter module. The curriculum is posted below. Weekly virtual sessions feature a didactic presentation, as well as an interactive case discussion based on a case scenario provided by a participant from the community.

Target audience: The program is for Ontario-based individuals that serve First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis clients/patients through Indigenous healthcare services/organizations. We also have limited space for those who serve Indigenous clients through organizations with significant focused programming for Indigenous communities.

Reasons to join this ECHO program include:

• Increase your capacity in the management of mental and physical health and addictions in collaboration with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis clients/patients
• Receive no-cost recommendations from a knowledgeable, multidisciplinary community of practice
• Reduce feelings of professional isolation
• Reduce disparities in the quality of care for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations
• Minimize the need for specialist appointments by providing expert level care in a local, culturally relevant environment
• Receive a certificate of completion following the program