THE ISSUE
Half of all mental health expenditures in the Non-insured health benefits for First Nations and Inuit (NIHB) program are in unregulated provinces where Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC)s have been removed from the list of approved providers, meaning that there is a significant need for their services, but Indigenous Peoples are not able to access them.
In September of 2015, CCPA prepared a written submission on the reinstatement of CCCs to the Assembly of First Nations and Health Canada joint review of the Short-Term Crisis Intervention Mental Health Counselling benefit of the NIHB program. The submission led to the recommendation that:
“National counselling/therapy practicing bodies, such as the CCCs, in provinces and territories that have not regulated the profession be immediately reinstated as eligible service providers”.
This recommendation was never implemented. Reinstating CCCs would enable the NIHB program to fulfill its mandate to close the gaps in health outcomes for Indigenous Peoples.
How to help
Send a letter to politicians and decision makers
about the vital need to support Indigenous Peoples’ mental health and support their right to self-determination.
Send a letter to politicians and decision-makers
about the vital need to support Indigenous peoples’ mental health and support their right to self-determination.
Watch CCPA’s Appearance before INAN for a 5 minute testimony video explaining the issue:
Angela Grier, CCPA's Lead, Indigenous Initiatives, appeared as a witness in front of the Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAN) at their 19th meeting on the issue of Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCC) having been de-listed as eligible mental health providers on the Non-Insured Health Benefits program.
Listen to her 5 minute testimony video explaining the issue.
Learn more about CCPA’s Advocacy efforts at
Real life videos - stories of people affected
