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Mental Health Travel Funding Extended for Survivors
31 Jul
Summary
- Travel funding for mental health counselling is extended until March 2027.
- Survivors express hope but worry about program's long-term future.
- Sudden funding changes caused distress and uncertainty for clients.
Indigenous Services Canada has secured funding to continue covering travel costs for mental health counselling until the end of the fiscal year in March 2027. This decision comes after initial notifications that travel funding would cease, causing distress among residential school survivors and their families in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Survivors, such as Joanne Charney and Ruth Niptanatiak-Wilcox, have relied on this program for years to access vital in-person mental health support. While relieved by the extension, they worry about the program's long-term viability and the lack of clear communication regarding future funding, emphasizing the need for more advance notice and consultation.
Psychologist Jodi Kapicki also expressed gratitude for the extended funding but echoed concerns about the program's sustainability beyond March 2027. She highlighted the potential harm of abrupt changes and hopes for greater consultation with service providers and Indigenous partners to develop a stable, long-term plan.
