My name is Matthew Harder. My family is affiliated with the Peguis band in Manitoba, however, my grandmother was raised on the Hollow Water reserve in Manitoba and my mother’s family comes from Fiji. I currently live in Delta B.C. and I acknowledge the scəw̓aθən (Tsawwassen First Nations) and the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam First Nations), on whose shared, traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories we reside, learn, work, and gather.
Mental health is an important aspect of every person’s life. Our mental health journey is unique to each person. For indigenous people in Canada, their wellness is not only rooted in individual coping methods but may also include connections to culture, community, land and identity. For many Indigenous people, there is an awareness of inequities and racism experienced in the healthcare system. This experience can make accessing mental health support feel complicated, distant, or unsafe (Cooke & Shields 2024).
Understanding Indigenous wellness means understanding the impacts of intergenerational trauma. These lasting impacts can include ongoing impacts of colonialism, residential schools, forced displacement, and systemic inequities. The effects of colonization have had lasting effects with higher rates of anxiety and depression and higher rates of suicide compared to the rest of the population (Boksa et al., 2015).
Culturally Safe and Trauma‑Informed Care
The Truth and Reconciliation Council of Canada (TRC) has identified the need to address the inequities in Indigenous healthcare including mental health. One way this can be done is providing culturally safe and trauma informed care. Indigenous cultural safety in this context ensures that clinicians are working with people to ensure they feel respected, recognizing and addressing unfair treatment, acknowledging experiences and creating a safe environment that feels welcoming all while respecting Indigenous worldviews (Beaulieu et al., 2026). Trauma‑informed care means recognizing how past and present traumas can shape a person’s thoughts, behaviour, and their willingness to reach out for help (Northern Health, 2021).
Practical Supports and Resources in BC
We recognize that Truth and Reconciliation is only one step in providing safe and appropriate mental healthcare for Indigenous individuals.
Below are some resources that can help Indigenous people find culturally safe and trauma informed mental health support.
The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA): For those with status cards. They provide health and mental health services.
www.fnha.ca/Documents/FNHA-First-Nations-Health-Benefits-Mental-Health-Provider-List.pdf
KUU‑US Crisis Line Society: Provides crisis support to Indigenous people across BC
https://www.kuu-uscrisisline.com/
1-800-588-8717
Hope for Wellness Help Line: Offers a 24/7 mental health support line for Indigenous people across Canada.
https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/
1-855-242-3310
Fraser Health: Offers support for Indigenous mental health and wellness through counselling and referrals.
Surrey region 778-288-6043
Maple Ridge/Coquitlam 604-652-4610
Abbotsford/Mission 604-814-5601
Chilliwack 604-702-4860
Hope/Agassiz 604-860-3114
Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society: Substance use and trauma treatment centre in Duncan BC
250-390-3123
Indian Residential School Survivors Society: Counselling and support for individuals and communities.
1-800-721-006
Métis Crisis Line: 24/7 support phone line
https://www.mnbc.ca/work-programs/ministries/mental-health-harm-reduction
1-833-638-4722
Myself and the Alongside You family acknowledge the scəw̓aθən (Tsawwassen First Nations) and the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam First Nations), on whose shared, traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories we reside, learn, work, and gather.
Matthew is a Masters Intern here at Alongside You as he completes his education to become a Registered Clinical Counsellor. Please connect with us if you would like to book an intern counselling appointment with Matthew!
References
Beaulieu, E., Citron, S., Giroux, R., Laforme, C., Miners, A., Schrewe, B., & Sellers, E. (2026). Cultural safety in practice: Providing quality health care for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children and youth. Paediatrics & Child Health. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/pxaf108
Boksa, P., Joober, R., & Kirmayer, L. J. (2015). Mental wellness in Canada’s Aboriginal communities: Striving toward reconciliation. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience : JPN, 40(6), 363. https://doi.org/10.1503/jpn.150309
Cooke, M., & Shields, T. (2024). Anti-Indigenous racism in Canadian healthcare: A scoping review of the literature. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 36(3). https://doi.org/10.1093/intqhc/mzae089
Northern Health Indigenous Health (2021). Orange Shirt Day – Learning About Trauma Informed Care. https://www.indigenoushealthnh.ca/news/orange-shirt-day-learning-about-trauma-informed-care