February 10, 2022 | Toronto, ON | Public Health Agency of Canada
While many people in Canada struggle with their mental health, certain groups face unique challenges when it comes to mental health because of systemic racism, discrimination, socio-economic status or social exclusion. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionally impacted and exacerbated the mental health within these equity deserving communities.
Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, and Associate Minister of Health, announced an investment of $800,000 for two projects addressing mental health supports for Black Canadians. Both projects demonstrate a commitment to increasing knowledge of mental health and the inequalities and social determinants of health in Black communities. This knowledge will support building capacity for developing effective, culturally-focused approaches to mental health.
The Harriet Tubman Institute at York University is receiving $400,000 to analyze racism in academia, study the mental health of Black university students, and develop relevant tools to support university students from Black communities. To support this, the project will implement an applied research program that brings together the expertise of public social and health community services and the university environment where Black students study. By focusing on the needs of communities and on equity towards the target audience, this project is part of an approach to fight anti-Black racism and its expressions in our post-secondary institutions.
Located in the Greater Toronto Area, the TAIBU Community Health Centre is receiving $400,000 to develop a national knowledge network in support of the Government of Canada's Mental Health of Black Canadians (MHBC) Fund. By developing a central space for knowledge sharing, the project will build capacity within Black communities by increasing knowledge of mental health, the inequalities and social determinants of health, and culturally responsive approaches. This project will work to improve the awareness of an Afrocentric perspective; and create positive change in policies and practices that impact the mental health and wellbeing of Black Canadians.
