Access to Mental Health Care in Indigenous Communities Across Canada

Abstract

There are significant mental health disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada, largely due to a legacy of colonization and marginalization. Inuit, Status Indians, non-Status Indians, and Métis people all have differing levels of access to mental health services, with the latter two groups being largely neglected in federal and provincial Indigenous health programs. Though Indigenous health is legally a federal responsibility, mental health services vary dramatically between provinces and territories.