Authored by Norma Nicholson and Maame Debrah, Community Outreach Coordinator UWPR
A Very Powerful Old Phrase
We have all heard it before, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” and although this may be true; when it comes to mental illness this may not be the case. For African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) Canadians, the struggle for mental health is often a silent one, said Stacey-Ann Buchanan, an actress presenting her film The Blind Stigma at the Black Health Alliance “Sound Mind” Mental Health forum held on November 14, 2015. Mental illness is truly invisible however it doesn’t make it any less real for those who are affected. In fact, 1 in every 3 Canadians experiences a mental health problem each year.
Mental health or well-being for African Canadians is a balanced and healthy outlook, attitude, behaviour and life practices consistently filled with joy, satisfaction, autonomy, a sense of purpose, a positive orientation, confidence, resilience, self-worth and strongly affirmed racial, cultural and social identity.
While mental health revolves around health promotion and prevention of illness and dysfunction, mental illness refers to impairments in thinking that lead to significant distress and daily problems in living and may include chronic stress, stress-related trauma, and depressive symptoms. The severity of symptoms can range from mild to severe.
An unfolding mental health crisis and a deep crisis of identity grip African Canadians. Research indicates that Blacks access mental health services at a 50% later rate than any other group and this is concerning. However, late access to treatment and support must take into consideration the lack of cultural competence of mainstream mental health agencies, confusion about “Westernized” concepts of mental health and illness, language barriers and racism. Dr. Kwame McKenzie, CEO of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) speaking at the “Sound Mind” forum noted that the “black population is under attack from racism and neglect”.
Health promotion and prevention of illness
Racism is complex, functions at different levels and has serious cognitive, interpersonal, and environmental effects on individuals. Evidence shows that living in racialized countries can increase a person’s chance of developing anxiety and depression. Mental illness can be induced by direct and vicarious trauma connected with being witnesses and victims of unrelenting state violence, most vivid in police violence and brutality. The Black community’s disproportionate involvement in the criminal justice system and community and interpersonal violence only serve to exacerbate this plight. Furthermore, precarious employment, underemployment and poverty are risk factors for poor mental health.
Blacks are plagued by a crisis of poor community leadership in mental health very minimal holistic client-centred, anti-racist health prevention strategies, and limited community representation in planning and programming. As a result of these barriers many mental illnesses usually go unaddressed for the vast majority of Blacks and often spiral into a whole range of
other serious health problems including death. Culturally rooted stigma associated with mental illness and stereotypes about the “strong” Black woman and “machismo” for black men often prevent people from seeking help when required.
Research with legitimate information
A report “Mapping the Mental Health System in Peel Region”, released by the United Way of Peel Region last year, noting gaps in the system indicates that, emergency departments which are often the first point of contact for patients experiencing mental health challenges have excessive wait times. In addition, most hospitals require referrals to their outpatient programs from general physicians and psychiatrists. For those who do not have access to general physicians, unfriendly policies like these perpetuate the cycle of people ending up in emergency services when they could be receiving community-based support. Navigating the mental health system can be complex and confusing further re-traumatizing individuals who need help.
It is crucial and imperative to provide meaningful ways of averting this crisis. Helping the most vulnerable of the 116,225 Blacks in Peel means we must work proactively to address policy issues related to allocating funds and resources for the first point of contact services to provide the needed support. Improved funding and creative collaborations with mental health organizations, Black communities, and other service providers can allow different stakeholders to play a coordinated role in developing and delivering local mental health promotion and care strategies. Outreach can be expanded to deliver support and services where people naturally congregate and improve access by ensuring cultural and linguistic competence.
Find additional resources in this section
Know someone who is experiencing mental health challenges: A few resources are:
Children: Connect with the school team that includes mental health nurses. Find additional resources at http://www.peelschools.org
Teens and adults: First Episode Assessment Clinic (FACT) Peel. Services 16 – 45. Self-referrals are accepted.
Ask your family doctor to fill out the CAMH referral form and fax it to Access CAMH at (416) 979-6815.
Access a list of programs offered through United Way of Peel’s funded agencies at http://www.unitedwaypeel.org.
Call 211, a telephone helpline that connects people to the right information and services.
Youth Empowerment Services 