Mental Health and Addictions Services are delivered in the Tłı̨chǫ communities by staff of the two wellness centres in Behchokǫ̀ and Whatì.. Counsellors in the Whatì Centre also serve the people in Gamètì. Our counsellors and other staff in our Behchokǫ̀ centre serve people in Rae and Edzo as well as in Wekweetì. Our mental health and addictions strategy is called the Tłı̨chǫ Healing Path. The goal of the Healing Path is to have “healthy people in healthy communities”. The Tłı̨chǫ Healing Path Wellness Strategy PDF
The Need for a Change Many people in our communities suffer from addictions to alcohol, drugs and gambling. Others suffer the physical and social effects of addictions - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), quitting school, family conflicts and break-ups, poverty and unemployment, conflict with the law and other at-risk behaviours.
Still others suffer from illnesses, many of which are preventable - illnesses such as diabetes, cancers related to smoking and sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). Many of our children are "at risk" - growing up in unhealthy conditions. Stories From Our Youth: The Effect of Addictions in Our Community PDF
A Tłı̨chǫ Approach The Healing Path Wellness Strategy is a Tłı̨chǫ Strategy. It was designed by Tłı̨chǫ people to meet the needs of our families and communities. The Healing Path Wellness Strategy can provide you with access to the assistance of the many trained professionals, other resource people and caregivers in our communities, as well as other support services in the NWT and beyond as necessary. As part of the strategy, we are creating a network of trained caregivers including elders in each community. We rely heavily on the support and guidance of people who have come through their own healing process and would like to volunteer their help to others. If you are interested in helping others in our communities, please call the Wellness Centre in Rae-Edzo at 867-392-6777. If you are in Gamètì, Wekweetì or Whatì, please call collect.
Protection Services is a part of what is more commonly known as child and family or social services. Protection services is about protecting and taking care of people who may not be able to take care of themselves such as children or elders. At the territorial level these services also include helping to manage and control public health issues such as clean air and water, safe food handling practices and infectious disease control.
Links to Useful Information & Public Education Sites Disclaimer:
The materials offered on the Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency website are intended for educational and information purposes only. This website does not offer medical or any other kind of advice. Any information provided on or linked from the TCSA website is not a substitute for medical opinion.
Foster Family Coalition of the NWT is a “unified voice dedicated to improving the quality of life for foster children and youth by supporting foster families wellbeing.” http://www.ffcnwt.com
ICAH Information Centre on Aboriginal Health sponsored by the National Aboriginal Health Organization, this site is a portal to hundreds of other resources on everything from wellness and acute healthcare issues, programs and services, health careers, education and training and scholarships and bursaries. http://www.icah.ca/
Sexuality and You sponsored by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada is a website devoted to sexuality education and information from sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) to contraception awareness, and lifestyle choices to talking about sex. The site has sections for Teens, Adults, Parents, Teachers and Health Professionals. http://www.sexualityandu.ca/
The 411 Initiative For Change undertakes public education and the promotion of civic participation of young people on social issues that frame their development within their communities; it works to build and strengthen the national action movement on common global issues, in their domestic and international contexts. http://www.whatsthe411.ca/
