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Resolution No. 11

Confederacy Of Nations
Resolution No. 11/2000
April 4, 5 & 6, 2000
Ottawa, Ontario

Subject: 
Mental Health –Youth Suicide

Moved By:
Chief John Snow, Stoney Tribal Administration

Seconded By:
Chief Wilson Bearhead, Treaty 7

Adopted                      

WHEREAS the First Nations and Inuit Regional Health Survey has found that 17% of First Nations parents have identified their children as having mental or behavioral problems;

WHEREAS mental health has been identified by AFN Chiefs Committee on Health (CCOH) as the number one health priority for First Nations for the last two years;

WHEREAS First Nations are experiencing the highest rates of suicide in Canada and where the rate of suicide amongst the 15 –18 age group is five times the national average,  the issue of youth suicide has been identified as reaching crisis proportions;

WHEREAS AFN resolution 35/99 called for immediate action by First Nations Chiefs to address the issue of youth suicide;

WHEREAS on February 25, 2000, the National Chief along with other First Nations leaders and experts met with the Minister, Health Canada to address the crisis of youth suicide;

WHEREAS the outcomes of the meeting were as follows:

To distribute the AFN/MSB Mental Health Working environmental scan and comprehensive mental health framework to First Nation communities for feedback;

To convene a leadership forum on the issue; and

To sign a joint letter of commitment from the Minister and National Chief to address the youth suicide;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AFN-MSB Mental Health Working Group (MHWG) under the direction of the CCOH seek funding to distribute the environmental scan and framework and hold focus groups in the regions, seeking recommendations and approval for the comprehensive framework, which addresses training and capacity gaps, service and program delivery at the community level; and that the CCOH present the framework to the Chiefs-in-Confederacy;

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that AFN Chiefs in Assembly support and participate in the regional leadership forums on youth suicide , providing recommendations on prevention leading to a National Plan of Action on Youth Suicide, which will be rolled-up by the MHWG under the direction of the CCOH;

FINALLY BE IT RESOLVED that the National Chief, the MHWG, and the CCOH continue to lobby for increased resources both human and financial to address the youth suicide crisis and mental health strategy.