The Government of the Northwest Territories has released results from its 2024 Mental Wellness and Addiction Recovery (MWAR) Survey.
Residents were invited to participate between Jan. 25 and April 25, 2024. Nearly 660 people responded, the highest participation yet and about 50 per cent more than in 2021.
The survey highlights participants’ experiences with mental health and addiction services across the territory. The findings show that mental health concerns remain widespread.
Only one in four people rated their mental health as excellent or very good, a number much lower than the general NWT population. While awareness of the Community Counselling Program was relatively high at 61 per cent, fewer people were familiar with other services like helplines, e-mental health options, or facility-based treatment.
Access to services remains a challenge, especially for Indigenous residents, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, people in smaller communities, and those facing financial hardship. Despite this, most who received support felt it helped their well-being.
70 per cent of counselling users and 92 per cent of treatment centre users reported improvements in their health and well-being. Satisfaction was also high, with 84 per cent of counselling clients and 82 per cent of treatment centre clients saying they felt respected and supported.
However, equity gaps persist. Residents facing social and financial barriers were more likely to struggle with access and less likely to report positive outcomes from the care they received.
The GNWT plans to use this feedback to improve services, making them more inclusive and accessible. While not fully representative, the survey offers important insight into the needs and experiences of people using mental health and addiction supports in the NWT.
The full report is available on the NWT Health and Social Services website: https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/sites/hss/files/resources/mwar-survey-key-findings.pdf
