The Government of Yukon is hosting a two-day, free online Mental Wellness Summit on Monday, February 14, and Tuesday, February 15, 2022. The summit is open to all Yukoners and will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days.
Over the course of the two days, this Summit will bring together leaders, partners and those with lived experience from across the Yukon and Canada to speak about pressing mental wellness issues and initiatives. It will also help to identify mental wellness needs and collaborative solutions to support Yukoners and Yukon communities.
Presenters at the Summit will discuss mental wellness for youth and First Nations communities, alcohol reduction models, health care services in rural communities, suicide prevention, as well as harm reduction, opioids and safe supply projects.
The Summit will also include a talk by the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation on land-based services and its Native Wellness Assessment tool, a discussion with Dr. Roderick McCormick on culturally appropriate healing approaches for First Nations people and a presentation from the Mental Health Commission of Canada about Roots of Hope, a community suicide prevention project.
Participants will be able to ask questions and share their thoughts on these, and other presentations, through live polls. Yukoners who are interested in attending the Summit must register beforehand. Videos of the presentations will be available online later next week.
This Summit will help inform the Government of Yukon’s new Opioid Action Plan that will build on the success of the territory’s first plan in 2018. It also forms part of the Yukon government’s response to the Substance Use Health Emergency declaration, which will include focus groups in the spring, followed by an in-person event once people can gather safely in person again.
As many Yukoners are struggling with mental health and substance use issues, it is important that we work together as a territory to find solutions that will strengthen our communities and ensure every Yukoner has the support they need. The Mental Health Wellness Summit is an opportunity for Yukoners to learn about innovative ideas and join the conversation, which can help us improve mental wellness, reduce substance use and highlight ongoing suicide prevention initiatives in the territory. I encourage all Yukoners to register now to attend next week’s Summit.
Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee
Yukoners can register here for the Summit.
The Government of Yukon hosted its last Mental Wellness Summit in 2019.
Canada’s Premiers launched a podcast about promising practices in mental health and substance use in March 2021.
As part of the substance use health emergency declaration, the Government of Yukon committed to a number of initiatives, including a Mental Wellness Summit.
RenéeFrancoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Carleen Kerr
Communications, Health and Social Services
867-332-8293
carleen.kerr@yukon.ca