New Report Exposes Systemic Gaps in Urban Indigenous Healthcare in St. John’s

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

St. John’s, NL – First Light today has released a new report outlining the systemic drivers of health disparities affecting the urban Indigenous community in St. John’s and the wider Metro Area. The findings highlight the need for better coordination between community and provincial health services.

While Indigenous health inequities are often associated with rural or remote communities, Falling Through the Cracks: Systemic Drivers of Urban Indigenous Health Disparities in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador makes clear that there are also urgent and frequently overlooked needs in urban areas like St. John’s. The report describes how social determinants of health, systemic racism, and jurisdictional complexities contribute to unequal access to care and fragmented service delivery for urban Indigenous people.

The result is higher incidence of chronic disease, unmet mental health needs, and less timely care for urgent conditions. To address these gaps, First Light is opening a health clinic in the fall that will focus on healthcare services specifically for the urban Indigenous community in the St. John’s Metro Area. Offering full wraparound services, the clinic will be located at First Light’s new headquarters on Quidi Vidi Road.

“Healing and health begin with feeling safe, seen, and supported. For many urban Indigenous people, the path to effective healthcare isn’t just about better access to primary care. For our community, it’s also essential that that care be grounded in community, culture, and ceremony.”

Lori Michelin, Manager of Health Services at First Light

Details of what the clinic will offer and why it is needed were announced last September. An updated version of the solution document that accompanied the announcement is now available online.

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