The NIHB program enables Nunavik beneficiaries to access mental health counselling benefits through an eligible mental health counsellor without the need for a medical referral.
Beneficiaries wishing to obtain this service must make their own arrangements to contact the mental health counsellor of their choice. The mental health counsellor must be a member in good standing of a professional regulatory body recognized by law, and must be eligible for independent practice in the province of Quebec.
Hope for Wellness Helpline
If you're experiencing emotional distress and want to talk about it, call 1-855-242-3310 or chat online at hopeforwellness.ca. This toll-free First Nations and Inuit Hope for Well-Being hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
**For immediate danger, dial 9-1-1 or the emergency services number in your community.
Counseling services, as well as cultural and emotional support, are also available through the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program, created by the Government of Canada for eligible former students and their families.
Important
- There will be no reimbursement to the mental health counselor for appointments missed or cancelled by the beneficiary. It is the client's responsibility to pay any penalty fees to the mental health counsellor for no-shows.
- If the sessions are scheduled to take place by videoconference, it is the responsibility of the beneficiary to ensure that he/she obtains the telephone number to contact his/her mental health counsellor in the event of a computer breakdown at the time of the appointment.
Access the Regional Mental-Health Counselling Benefits Policy