Grant: Operating Grant: NEIHR - Ontario

First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Peoples (FNMI) in Canada are a vulnerable population with respect to mental health, a problem that has its roots in historical oppression and current discrimination. Research conducted by the ON NEIHR from 2019 to 2024 shows that challenges related to cultural identity, culture clash between biomedical service and FNMI ways of healing, racism/discrimination, and failure of Canada's health policy, are all factors that underpin and mediate FNMI mental health problems. Further, ON NEIHR data has identified that distinction-based Indigenous Knowledges have a major positive impact on mental health. The ON NEIHR's research outputs in its first five years began to impact health care systems and services by providing solutions that move away from crisis-based and western biomedical services as the only option for FNMI Peoples seeking mental health supports from clinics, hospitals, community health centres, schools, and more. Having scratched the surface of change with over 500 knowledge translation activities, including 130+ publications, 35 webinars, a Massive Online Open Course. There have been 150+ students trained in partnership with the Ontario Indigenous Mentorship Network (IMNO) and 25+ community partners engaged; the ON NEIHR now aims to continue to strengthen and broaden its impact on local and systemic change over the next five years by coordinating strategically with other NEIHRS for national health solutions and systemic policy change. Continuing to work closely with the IMNO, regional providers of Indigenous mental health care, and with national and international reach, the network will deepen its student training, program development, and evaluation in culturally based evidence-based research to improve the mental health of peoples of all ages, with an overarching goal to reduce and end FNMI mental health problems across themes of land-based healing, addictions and trauma, resisting suicide, and policy and knowledge translation.