Mental health is health and distress, and crisis centres are an integral part of Canada’s public health approach to suicide prevention. They provide immediate support and resources when people need them the most.
This is why today, Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton South announced on behalf of the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health an investment of $447, 618 from the Distress Line Equity Fund to support CMHA Peel Dufferin, Roots Community Services and South Asian Canadians Health & Social Services distress lines and centres offering crisis services to help address gaps in equity, diversity, and inclusion within the distress line sector.
Crisis lines play an important role in a public health approach to suicide prevention that aims to reduce an individual’s crisis state, emotional distress, and suicide risk. Additionally, they may offer access to other suicide prevention resources, tools, and services.
The new funding will provide the 24/7 Crisis Support Service in Peel Dufferin with a $250,000 grant to provide essential support to the local Black, African, and Caribbean community within the Region of Peel and Dufferin County. In partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Peel Dufferin and Roots Community Services, the crisis support service offers a 24/7 crisis line tailored to residents of Peel Region and Dufferin County. Additionally, it serves as a network provider for the national 988 suicide crisis helpline, extending services to all of Ontario.
The announcement also includes $197,618 in funding for South Asian Canadians Health & Social Services to provide members of the South Asian community with a service they can access that will provide support, counselling, and access to community and/or mental health resources by providing services in common South Asian languages, in addition to English and French, training of staff to ensure the use of a culturally sensitive lens within service delivery, and providing culturally sensitive educational materials to the community to increase mental health awareness and help destigmatize mental healthcare.
This initiative to enhance equity, diversity and inclusion in our distress line sector is an important complement to the 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline. Anyone in Canada can call or text 9-8-8 to access 24/7/365, bilingual, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate suicide prevention and emotional distress support.
It is essential that everyone in Canada has access to mental health resources when they need them the most, regardless of their culture, social or economic status.
“We’re pleased to announce this funding for our community.” said Sonia Sidhu, MP Brampton South. “The dedication of an organization to providing culturally diverse and responsive programming is an asset in meeting the needs of the demographic in Peel Region and Dufferin County.”
“Both CMHA Peel Dufferin and Roots Community Services anticipate that this significant program will redirect calls from police to trained crisis workers on the 24/7 crisis line,” said David Smith, CEO at CMHA Peel Dufferin. “Our professionals are equipped to offer culturally affirming and trauma-informed crisis intervention. Moreover, this enhanced service will streamline referrals to the most culturally appropriate resources for continued support and stabilization.”
“It was a wonderful occasion with MP Sonia Sidhu, Brampton South for the generous funding we received to deliver the much-needed services for the community through the Distress Line Equity Fund. Thank you, MP Sonia Sidhu and the Government of Canada, for your support”, – Dr. Maher Hussain, Director, SACHSS
“RootsCS believes that partnership is an essential element in our work within our community. Hence, we embrace this opportunity to join our community partners in providing culturally responsive and adaptive services to the Black African Caribbean (BAC) Community and other racialized residents within the Peel region and beyond. We affirm the truth within this African Poem;
If you want to go fast, Go alone
If you want to go far, Go together
We are delighted to be a part of this exciting initiative.” Shane Joseph – CEO, RootsCS.
