Stepping Outside the Box

Systemic barriers, intergenerational trauma, and a lack of access to culturally safe and effective mental health supports mean young Indigenous Peoples struggle more than the average individual in their age group.

The Indigenous Mental Health Collective in Calgary is responding to this crisis. Led by the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY), the Collective is a two-year project designed to support urban Indigenous youth by delivering mental health supports that align with their personal and cultural needs. This program recognizes that healing and mental health care is not one-size-fits-all, and that each approach should be tailored to the individual. Available for those aged 18-29, the program uses an “experimentation” model with a range of approaches and ideologies, including Indigenous, global Indigenous, Western therapeutic, and alternative practices. Activities include cultural camps, ceremony, peer-to-peer support, counselling, and wellness workshops, all guided by Elders and Knowledge Keepers. Upon completion of the program, youth are invited to act as co-researchers, reflect on their experiences, and contribute to the development of improved, culturally appropriate models of care, with findings shared across the Indigenous-serving sector.

The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is providing funding to support meaningful and lasting improvements in the mental health of urban Indigenous youth. Helping young Indigenous Peoples reclaim their sense of self using culturally grounded approaches not only heals the spirit but fortifies the mind and empowers youth on their own journeys.

Diocese of Calgary