Canada is home to many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, each with their own unique histories and experiences. Because of this diversity, there are many different views on mental health and how to approach its treatment. Each community brings its own cultural insights and traditions, leading to a variety of perspectives that can shape the way mental health is understood and addressed.
This article aims to highlight similarities seen across many nations and cultures but is in no way attempting to paint all Indigenous cultures as the same. We encourage you to customize prompts and advice to align with your own traditional teachings and/or contact Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Medicine People to tailor your healing to you.
Many traditional Indigenous healing practices differ from Western approaches by emphasizing the individual's holistic well-being, their connections within the community, and their spiritual beliefs. While Western medicine tends to separate physical and mental health, Indigenous ways of knowing acknowledge that the two are dependent on each other as well as on your emotional and spiritual health.
Indigenous ways of knowing teach of the balance needed to be healthy highlighting that when one aspect is impacted, all facets are interconnected and affected. Western medicine also focuses on the person as an individual while traditionally, Indigenous people’s relationships within their community are considered to be directly tied to their health. For example, many know what it feels like to lose someone close to you, whether through death or a breakup with a romantic partner or friend, and how that can affect you in different ways like feeling a tightness in your chest or a mental cloud.
Traditional approaches to managing depressive disorders are strongly rooted in community, knowledge, and spirituality. One common practice is to seek advice from an elder, a trusted member of the community who carries great wisdom. Additionally, individuals may pray to their ancestors for guidance and strength. Engaging in ceremonies like Sweat Lodges or Sun Dances can serve as powerful means to enhance one's spiritual connection. This nurturing of spiritual health often contributes positively to overall well-being.
Traditional ways of knowing encourage a holistic assessment of oneself to identify the root causes of emotional distress; is something physically harming your mental wellbeing like a lack of sleep? Are you going through a rough patch in a relationship that is making you self-conscious and second guess other relationships?
Another commonly overlooked form of traditional medicine is laughter. First Nations Elder Brenda Dubois, along with Michif Old Ones Irma Klyne and Larry Fayant, emphasized the importance of laughter as a healing tool. Connecting with your community can be a helpful step to enhance relationships and reduce stress by sharing experiences, often infusing humor into challenging situations. It can be very beneficial to be able to laugh at oneself and see the humour in an otherwise scary situation. Viewing anxieties in a positive way allows for a non-judgmental perspective, which is essential for working through them effectively.
It is important to acknowledge the background and benefits of traditional methods of healing as connecting with one’s culture is known to have positive effects on the mental health of Indigenous communities. It is also important to acknowledge that some people are not comfortable with traditional healing and ceremony and that is okay. If you practice any other type of spirituality, it is still important to maintain a healthy balance between the aspects of your being.