The First Nations Wellness Initiative: A Community-Driven Approach to Promoting Mental Wellness in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The FNWI Team: Samantha Wells, Renee Linklater, Branka Agic, Kathryn Graham, Sean Hillier, Melody Morton Ninomiya, Lisa George, Lee Ann Hampton, Sheena Kewageshig, Lori Kewaquom, Sonya Roote

Despite high rates of mental health and substance use (MHS) challenges in many First Nations due to the effects of colonialism, many existing programs designed to address these challenges are not culturally safe, wholistic or responsive to community-specific needs. The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating these MHS challenges, and First Nations communities are disproportionately affected, largely due to health and socio-economic disparities stemming from the enduring effects of colonialism. The First Nations Wellness Initiative is a collaborative model for developing community-driven, evidence-informed and community-based wellness strategies addressing age- and gender-specific MHS challenges in First Nations communities. Building on strong research partnerships with two First Nations, we will develop sustainable mental wellness strategies in both communities and disseminate knowledge to promote successful wellness strategies in other First Nations. Participatory Action Research will be used. The team will evaluate the strategies and their outcomes, and disseminate best practice knowledge from the strategies regionally, provincially and nationally.