bridging barriers to newcomer mental health - webinar ... · support policies that remove barriers...

April 24, 2019Presenters: • Ali Ahmed, Mental Health Program Support Worker, Niagara Folk Arts

Multicultural Centre • Jillien Hone, Volunteer Coordinator, Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre

Bridging Barriers to Newcomer Mental Health in Niagara

Bridging Barriers to Newcomer Mental Health

2019

Presenters

Jillien Hone Ali Ahmed

Overview

• Background Information• Environmental Scan • Data from Pilot Project• Next Steps and Recommendations• Q&A

Background

Provincially funded 1 year pilot project

• Purpose • Challenges• Plan and Execution

Problem: Identifying Gaps in the Niagara Region

• 67,000 newcomers in St. Catharines-Niagara CMA* (Living in Niagara 2017 report, Niagara Connects; Census 2016, Statistics Canada)

• 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness or problem in any given year (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2013)

• Extremely low rates of mental health service utilization and access by newcomers

*Note: St. Catharines-Niagara CMA does not include Grimsby and West Lincoln

About the Pilot ProjectEmphasis on Research

Educational Programs

Private Counseling

Social Support Activities

Environmental Scan

Services Accessed by Newcomer Population

(Awad & Ahmed, 2019)

Organizations that frequently see newcomer clients accessing their mental health services:1. Brock Health Services2. Victim Services Niagara3. Kids Help Phone4. YWCA5. Folk Arts Multicultural Centre6. Family Counseling Centre7. Centre de Sante8. Distress Centre of Niagara

Needs Identified by the Agencies

Problem: Barriers as Identified by Niagara-based Agencies

(NFAMC Environmental Scan, 2018)

Anti-Stigma Campaign

Problem: Data Collection from the Newcomer Mental Health Pilot Project

Total Clients Served: 392

Total served in one-on-one sessions: 131

Total Visits for group activities and one-on-one sessions: 833

Demographics

Poll

What do you think was the leading challenge or main concern for clients in our program?

• CP: Career Planning• CS: Communication Skills• EI: Emotional Issues• FIHC: Families In Home Countries• Other

Main Concerns by Immigration Status

Newcomer Mental Health Pilot Project: Emerging Best Practices

Five Key Learnings & Success Factors: a) Service in first languageb) Anti-stigma campaignc) Support services (childcare & transportation)d) Culturally-informed social support activitiese) Community space vs. institutional space

Our Proposal: Creating Safe & Inclusive Communities for Newcomers

Three Components:a) Increasing connection to supports → social support programs and activitiesb) Increasing neighbourhood and community engagement → anti-stigma and

educational campaignsc) Increasing personal wellbeing and safety → one-on-one and group counselling

and support

RecommendationsSupport approaches to promoting migrant wellbeing across systems including: health, social services, settlement, education etc. through developing, enhancing and coordinating partnerships between sectors

Support integrated community-based mental health services

Support education/training

Support policies that remove barriers to economic and social integration of newcomers (for example: through recognition of education and training)

Support longitudinal and comparative research of migrant mental health that considers multiple determinants of well-being through interdisciplinary approaches and community-academia alliances

• Ali Ahmed, Mental Health Program Support Worker, Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centreaahmed@folk-arts.ca

• Jillien Hone, Volunteer Coordinator, Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centrejhone@folk-arts.ca

• Niagara Connects: info@niagaraconnects.ca• www.niagaraconnects.ca• www.niagaraknowledgeexchange.com• www.livinginniagarareport.com• Twitter: @NiagaraConnects

Thank You!