Youth Health & Wellness Programs

Island Lake People in Wellness together

“Helping the Island Lake communities use the gifts of caring, laughter and tears for the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical well-being of all.”

The purpose of the Four Arrows Healing & Wellness Program is to help front line staff and community members recognize and apply their talents and wisdom to the challenging work of bringing healing and wellness into community life.

My endeavor is to reflect the goals of the Island Lake Communities to improve the physical, mental and social well-being of children, youth and adults. The approach is holistic and integrated because it builds on the theme of partnerships and identifies solutions for at-risk Community members and recognizes that these needs should not be separated from those of the family and community.

Improving the physical, mental and social well-being of children, youth and adults

Wellness Programs

Mental health and wellness promoting strategies are oriented towards empowerment and participation, and help to create awareness around suicide prevention and intervention.

The Programs

The programs consist of National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy (NAYSPS)/Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) /Safe Talk suicide prevention initiatives

Approach

Target audience: youth, families and working with wellness programs, other programs, schools, leaders.
Focus on ways to reduce risk factors and promote prevention factors
Improve services and supports to people by taking part in activities and projects through awareness and practice of prevention activities, address mental wellness and improve access to coordinated services, reduce stigma, referrals to mental health support and counselling,
Use strength-based approach, community-based approaches and community driven, culturally safe, relevant, respects local culture and traditions; promote health and wellbeing, increase awareness of suicide prevention and promotion of positive mental health throughout the lifespan, empowering through education
Provide cultural support, education, awareness, and suicide prevention activities, connect youth to each other, to community and land, families, and support, promote cultural identity, support development of youth leaders, develop safe protocols and improve crisis response plans and protocols (crisis response teams).
Developing new approaches to prevent suicide.

The Program

NAYSPS

National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy

Creation of NAYSPS

In September 2004, Aboriginal leaders, the Prime Minister, and First Ministers met to discuss joint actions to improve Aboriginal health outcomes, and to adopt measures to address the health disparities facing Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

The meeting led to a federal announcement of $700 million in funding for a series of new federal programs. Of this commitment, $65 million over five years (2005-2010) went towards establishing a National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy (NAYSPS) for First Nations living on reserve and Inuit living in Inuit communities.

NAYSPS was developed based on a review of evidence-based suicide prevention approaches and existing prevention strategies, both nationally and internationally. It was also informed by the Advisory Group on Suicide Prevention’s final report, Acting on What We Know: Preventing Youth Suicide in First Nations.

The Strategy incorporates the best available evidence with respect to youth suicide prevention and is focused on finding ways to reduce risk factors and promote protective factors for Aboriginal youth suicide. Inuit-specific NAYSPS activities are guided by a NAYSPS Implementation Guide that was designed by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s (ITK), Health Canada Regional offices, and ITK’s National Inuit Youth Council. First Nations-specific NAYSPS activities are guided by a First Nations-specific Implementation Guide that was designed through collaboration between Health Canada Regions, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and their First Nations youth council. (Government of Canada)

Program Responsibilities

Conduct research relevant to the existing suicide intervention and prevention services, including the existing service delivery systems and mandates of the four Island Lake First Nations;
Coordinate, promote and engage community representatives through a consultation forum or focus groups for the formation and inclusion in the development of a regional suicide prevention strategy;
Create awareness and education on prevention and youth suicide services through an extensive communication strategy, informational workshops and skills training;
Undertake research activities related to indicators associated with suicide attempts, and develop an evaluation tool to assist communities in early detection of youth at-risk;
Develop culturally proactive community approaches to youth suicide and youth at-risk based on identified best practices;
Develop an evaluation tool that will provide measurable outcomes and conduct quarterly reviews;
Develop a working relationship with any provincial organizations that deal with suicide prevention and awareness;
Attend meetings as requested by the Executive Director;
Prepare regular updates and briefings to the Executive Director and the Four Arrows Regional Health Authority Board;
Prepare and maintain annual work plan and projected budget;
Develop proposals, templates and correspondence as needed to meet program objectives.

Positions and Ethics

The Youth Suicide Prevention Worker is supervised by and reports to the Wellness Advisor.
Maintain confidentiality of all staff and client information;
Respect and safeguard client rights;
Encourage feedback on ways to improve services.

Our Team

Tyrone Munroe

Wellness Regional Manager (Garden Hill)

Phone: 1-204-951-5322

Email: tmunroe@fourarrowsrha.org

Four Arrows Regional
Health Authority