How telepresence technology can bridge the gap on mental health counselling in Nunavut

Canada’s North has a demonstrated need for better mental health services — and existing technology in place to link providers with patients remotely.

Spread over an area five times the size of France, the territory of Nunavut in Canada is home to only 38,000 people. With small communities situated far apart from one another across the vast area, the government struggles to provide adequate services those who call the territory home. This issue is particularly stark in the field of mental health. While mental health data is woefully scarce in the territory, the numbers we do have speak for themselves. In 2004 Nunavut’s suicide rate was 11 times Canada’s national average. Although the territory has recently made significant progress in combatting its mental health crisis — funding innovative work in crisis response, promoting cultural engagement, and improving youth services already appear to be have an impact — its suicide rate continues to be the highest in the nation.