Evaluation of the Project supporting the development of collaboration agreements in mental heatlh and addictions between first nations communities and health and social services centers (CSSSs)

The disparities between the state of health of the First Nations and that of all Quebecers are of grave concern. The extent of mental health problems and related issues—suicide, substance abuse, violence, etc.—is equally so. The Quebec First Nations Regional Health Survey 2008 (RHS) in particular revealed that 26.4% of First Nations adults have considered suicide during their lifetime and more than one quarter of adults have an elevated level of psychological distress according to the Kessler scale (K10). It
should also be noted that 84.3% of adults identify alcoholism and substance abuse as the main difficulty that their community faces (FNQLHSSC, 2012).
In response to this situation, an immediate, collaborative and structured action was initiated, but still needs to be consolidated to achieve sustainable outcomes in First Nations communities. In 2011, the report on Development of a Mental Health Service Organization Model Among the First Nations of Quebec, a project funded by the AHTF, found that the comorbidity between mental health problems and addictions is rising and is a major concern of interveners working in the communities (FNQLHSSC, 2011a). Along these lines, an initiative to improve the continuum of mental health and addiction services was initiated by the Working Committee on Mental Health and Addictions for the Implementation of Protocols Related to Service Trajectories between the CSSSs and non-Treaty Aboriginal Communities of Quebec,3 consisting of representatives of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission (FNQLHSSC), the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec (MSSS) and Health Canada. This committee has worked to develop a model collaboration agreement to support improved partnerships between health and social services centres (CSSSs) of the Quebec network and health centres in First Nations communities.