Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program

Important

The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program provides mental health and emotional support services to former Indian Residential School students and their families before, during and after their participation in Settlement Agreement processes, including the Common Experience Payments and the Independent Assessment Process, and those participating in Truth and Reconciliation Commission events and Commemoration activities.  

Resolution Health Support Program Services are

• safe
• confidential
• respectful, and
• non-judgmental

Information for Former Indian Residential School students and their families

Program Eligibility

All former Indian Residential School students, regardless of the individual's status or place of residence within Canada, who attended an Indian Residential School listed in the 2006 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement are eligible for the Resolution Health Support Program.

In recognition of the intergenerational impacts that the Indian Residential Schools had on families, Resolution Health Support Program services are also available to family members of former Indian Residential Schools students. The family of former students is defined as:

• Spouse or partner,
• those raised by or raised in the household of a former Indian Residential School student, and
• any relation who has experienced effects of intergenerational trauma associated with a family member's time at an Indian Residential School.

Health Canada verifies eligibility of persons requesting services with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, which holds data on students who attended those Indian Residential Schools that are part of the 2007 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

Services Available

Emotional Support

Services are provided by local Aboriginal organizations and are designed to help former students and their families safely address issues related to Indian Residential Schools as well as the disclosure of abuse during the Settlement Agreement process.  An aboriginal mental health worker will listen, talk and guide former students and their family members through all phases of the Settlement Agreement process.

Cultural Support

Cultural supports are provided by local Aboriginal organizations who coordinate the services of Elders and/or traditional healers.  Cultural supports seek to assist students and their families to safely address issues related to Indian Residential Schools as well as the disclosure of abuse during the Settlement Agreement process. Specific services are determined by the needs of the individual and include dialogue, ceremonies, prayers, or traditional healing.

Professional Counselling

Professional counsellors are psychologists and other mental health professionals that are registered with Health Canada and have experience working with Aboriginal people.   A professional counsellor will listen, talk and assist individuals to find ways of healing from Indian Residential School experiences.

Transportation

Will be coordinated by the Health Canada Regional Office when professional counselling and cultural support services are not locally available.

Accessing Health Support

Please contact the Resolution Health Support Program Regional Office in your Province or Territory.

When you call the Health Canada regional office, they will request your name and date of birth in order to confirm that you are eligible to access services under the Indian Residential School Resolution Health Support Program.  If you are a family member of a former student, the name and date of birth of the family member who attended residential school will be required to confirm your eligibility.

Once eligibility is confirmed, the Health Canada official will work with you to put you in contact with the health support services you require.