Examines mental health problems in the Canadian arctic with regard to (a) types of illness observed, (b) major etiological factors involved in emotional breakdown in the north, and (c) the problem of delivering service to arctic communities. In considering problems, it is necessary for the mental health consultant to distinguish between native and nonnative Canadians. When regarding Eskimo Canadians, their increasing use of alcohol is essential to their mental health problems. The main problems in the nonnative population involve persons who had moved from a southern community to the north. Etiological problems are mainly related to the erosion of native culture by "civilized" invaders. Suggestions include setting up an appropriate administrative chart that would permit coordination of mental health services maintained at community level. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)