Share
What We Heard: FNHA Mental Health and Wellness Summit
This past February, The College was fortunate to be a part of the first Mental Health and Wellness Summit hosted by the First Nations Health Authority!
As an exhibitor, we took the opportunity to try and spread awareness of emergency use Naloxone, its importance in helping prevent opioid overdose deaths and what we’ve done to make it more accessible to the public. It was deeply encouraging to see not only how many people were already well aware of naloxone and how to use it, but how many people were actually carrying kits!
We also took the chance to talk with the public and members of BC’s First Nations Community about the College’s Commitment to improving BC pharmacy professionals’ work with First Nations and Aboriginal People, and the “Declaration of Cultural Safety and Humility in Health Services Delivery for First Nations and Aboriginal Peoples in BC” that our Registrar, Bob Nakagawa, signed on March 1, 2017.
What We Heard
In addition to sharing our resources, we connected with local public health directors and administrators, mental health professionals, and community leaders and engaged in conversations focused on what we, as one of BC’s largest health professions, can do to advance cultural safety and humility for First Nations and Aboriginal People within BC’s public health system.
We asked them to share their thoughts on what cultural safety and humility within BC Pharmacies looks like to them so that we might share their responses with our registrants.
What does cultural safety & humility within BC Pharmacies look like to you?
On Access
“Pharmacies should show cultural sensitivity and be aware that many of our people fall below the economic poverty line and are not able to pay for their medicine and they should also be aware of all social programs that assist in paying for medicines to better facilitate our people in getting their medicines.”
“Make sure there are places people can gather to talk, to belong & to access culturally appropriate services”
“Transparency to all”
On Welcoming Environments
“Always see the human, not the stats, not the stigma”
“Kind, compassionate approach to people who have addictions”
“Reaching out to your open indigenous community to open dialog and sharing”
On Tradition
“It’s time to incorporate First Nations medicine and all its healing properties, into the health system so it’s not lost.”
“Respect and understanding of Indigenous needs; Recognition of Indigenous medicines; Respectful communication with Indigenous people.”
“The integration of both traditional and Western knowledge regarding healing”
On Attitude
“Seeing people equally – as human beings regardless of what they look like or where they come from”
“Honesty and Respect and Open mindedness”
“Being open, respectful, positive and non-judgmental”
www.bcpharmacists.org/humility
For more information, take a look at these highlights from the rest of the Summit:
- “Riverstone Mobile/Home Detox Program puts dignity and respect at the centre of care”
- “Honesty about sexual abuse sparks dialogue about healing and unites attendees at FNHA’s first ever Mental Health and Wellness Summit”
- “Panel discusses trauma and healing at First Nations Health Authority Mental Health and Wellness Summit”
- “Connecting to the Land Restores and Empowers People and Communities”
- “$20 Million to Support Community-Driven Solutions to Overdose Emergency”
- FNHA Mental Health and Wellness Summit Program
CULTURAL SAFETY AND HUMILITY READLINKS SERIES
Learn about the culture and experiences of First Nations and Aboriginal Peoples in BC, the importance of acknowledging racism in healthcare, and the role of cultural humility and safety in providing care in this Cultural Safety and Humility ReadLinks Series.
- Cultural Safety and Humility
