Mental Wellness & Addictions

The MOHT Leadership Council identified Mental Wellness and Addictions as its second-year priority population. This decision reflects the urgent and growing need within MOHT communities to address mental health and substance use concerns in a more coordinated, culturally grounded, and community-led way. Across the region, community members, families, and service providers have consistently raised concerns about fragmented services, long wait times, limited access to culturally safe care, and a lack of system coordination. These challenges are further compounded by the ongoing impacts of intergenerational trauma, colonialism, and systemic racism within the broader healthcare system.

The MWA Service Enhancement Project was developed in response to these concerns and aims to improve access to and integration of Mental Wellness and Addictions services across MOHT partner organizations. Grounded in Indigenous knowledge, values, and approaches to healing, this project centers community voices, strengthens local capacity, and enhances partnerships to ensure that services are responsive to the evolving needs of individuals, families, and communities. Through a collaborative engagement and co-design process, the MOHT will work toward a more holistic, culturally safe, and sustainable system of care that supports healing, wellness, and self-determination.

The Mental Wellness and Addictions Service Enhancement Project aims to facilitate enhanced access to, and coordination of, Mental Wellness and Addictions services for the MOHT attributed population.

This will be achieved through the following objectives:

1. 1. Enhance culturally safe, client-centered mental wellness and addictions services for the Maamwesying OHT attributed population through co-design and collaboration.
   2. Build shared understanding of roles across providers involved in mental wellness and addictions care.
   3. Assess and improve current system processes by identifying gaps and opportunities through engagement, leading to targeted quality improvement initiatives.
   4. Foster strong relationships and communication by establishing working groups and a sub-committee to support ongoing collaboration, implementation, and evaluation.