The findings and recommendations from Building Bridges 1 served as a foundation as we moved ahead with the Building Bridges 2 initiative. Research, findings, extensive national consultations, professionally produced video (Glimpses of Light), and recommendations in Building Bridges 2 were studied and examined through the lens of cultural safety, relational practice and social inclusion.

Findings of Building Bridges 1

This phase of Building Bridges represented a very successful and unique national experiment in health and social policy. The following overall objectives as established at the outset of this particular project were met:

• We articulated the importance of applying population health determinants and spirituality as keys for making meaning of life in Indigenous families/communities as it was, is, and could become;
• Clearly demonstrated that holistic concepts of mental health and well-being are fine working concepts to employ while doing developmental work with Indigenous communities; namely, as (a) tools to promote understanding “what”; (b) tools to explain “how”; (c) tools to explain “why”;
• Showed that definitions of mental health are changing and, in fact, are shifting towards a more holistic approach to mental health which affirms Indigenous cultural perceptions of wellness. Balance between the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual dimensions of life is a sign of health and wellness and may also be viewed as an indicator of a healthy lifestyle;
• Identified the importance of “walking with our ancestors”, knowing their teachings, and living by those teachings as we live today for tomorrow while at the same time living within a framework guided by core values that feature ‘community’ and the need for ‘community of care’ where there is safety and feelings of security, nurturance, stimulation, and belief in an optimistic future;
• Demonstrated how the mood disorders movement in Canada can work with Indigenous communities to identify priorities and promote appropriate training for professionals, especially culturally relevant training;
• Explored how Indigenous ways and best/promising practices can be shared with under-serviced communities in rural and remote areas of Canada. People are connected to their communities, but resources are inadequate to support their needs.
• Challenged funding practices and traditions that encourage the creation and maintenance of silos;
• Promoted the importance of spirituality and connectedness (belief and belonging) as key factors in prevention, recovery and mental health.

Recommendations from Building Bridges 1

As a result of the Building Bridges 1 Symposium the following seventeen (17) major recommendations were formulated:

1. That elders be selected and honoured for their gifts as educators and healers by their communities, in reshaping mental health services in this country.
2. That Mental Health Resource Teams be promoted and established, particularly in the North, where there are clusters of communities that can be served by a team. Include selected elders in such teams. The potential of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to re-stimulate trauma, makes these teams particularly important. Members of such teams are to be equally valued; their value is not to be based on their credentials. Mental Health Teams are not to be seen as emergency response teams but as resources for building mental wellness. Consumers are to be included in such teams.
3. That funding be provided for Participatory Action Research (PAR) concurrent with the activities of Mental Health Resource Teams to demonstrate that what is done is effective. PAR is the desired type of research because when it is designed with the input of the people for whom it is done, then it is of benefit to them and knowledge is transferred.
4. That a “College of Elders” be established to investigate how traditional knowledge can be a resource for problem-solving in the field of mental health and addictions.
5. That peers and families be respected as important advocates and resources to the mentally ill person and their service providers, and be included in the mental health team.
6. That a process for accreditation of peer support workers be established.
7. That systems be developed which allow the consumer and their family support system to guide and be in control of their own care. Promote collective consumer self-determination from the ground up.
8. That small mutual support groups be established in which people can help themselves, gain self-respect, and learn how to navigate systems and clinical situations.
9. That a new system be created not dominated by psychiatry rather than repair the old system, after first analyzing carefully the value base and deficits of the medical model. It is important to base strategies on a thorough understanding of the problem.
10. That strategies and solutions be community generated, otherwise they won’t be embedded.
11. That mental health services be established which are equal in quality and funded as generously as physical health services for all Canadians, including those incarcerated.
12. That the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s meetings be dialogical processes in which sufficient time is devoted to problem analysis and practical understanding of the issues.
13. That it is understood that unstructured public consultations are vital for all parties to share insights, to build bridges of understanding between professionals, consumers, peer supporters, family members, and cultural groups. The needs are too great to be addressed solely by experts; community members must be empowered.
14. That the Mental Health Commission of Canada give careful consideration to the First Nations and Inuit Mental Health Advisory Committee (MWAC) plan.
15. That it is formally recognized that quality mental health systems and services are a human right. The federal government should affirm the rights of the mentally ill and provincial/territorial governments should be required to meet a minimum standard of service.
16. That government supports multi ministry approaches to achieve seamless integration of services that will adequately address health determinants (e.g. shelter, food security).
17. That a National Steering Committee be established to develop a comprehensive five-year action planned aimed at collectively dealing with the systemic issues and recommendations emanating from the national symposium.