HEALING AND RECONCILIATION FOR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES
Resilient Spirits
Nations across the world are dealing with an unprecedented mental health crisis and Canada is no exception.
As we work to find solutions, marginalized communities are falling through the gaps.
With systemic barriers in place to access even the most basic of resources, and a deep-rooted distrust of conventional services due to historic treatment, Indigenous Peoples are experiencing disproportionately high rates of mental health challenges.
Culturally appropriate, trauma-informed mental health services are needed more than ever, and the not-for-profit Anishnabeg Outreach (AO) employment organization is turning to technology-enabled solutions to help. AONest, an innovative digital platform for mental health management, ensures that no matter where an individual is located, they have immediate access to the services they need when they need. AONest emphasizes the importance of nurturing spiritual health and will provide valuable resources to address challenges such as anxiety, grief, relationship difficulties and overall mental well-being.
The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is providing funding to help expand AONest in its effort to develop specialized content tailored to meet the unique needs of Indigenous peoples, particularly those affected by intergenerational trauma. Funding will create new resources such as video lessons, worksheets and guided exercises, all developed in collaboration with registered psychologists and psychotherapists. It will further cover a team responsible for branding, reviewing, performing voiceovers, editing and uploading vital content—ensuring communities have accessible, culturally sensitive resources to support healing and resilience.
After centuries of treading water and struggling to survive, Indigenous Peoples are breaking through the surface to challenge the cycle of disadvantages. As an Indigenous organization, AO has seen first-hand how mental health and intergenerational trauma are often at the root of broader socio-economic issues and how these have devastated communities. AONest’s impacts will be felt today and in generations to come.
Diocese of Hamilton
