Black Canadians continue to face significant barriers to accessing mental health services and supports, including cost of care, a history of systemic racism and discrimination in healthcare, personal and community experiences of racial bias, and overall lack of culturally representative and responsive mental health professionals.
Today the Honourable Ya'ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced the first recipients of the of the Promoting Health Equity: Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund. Three projects across Alberta will receive a total of $279,900 in funding to build capacity to develop and deliver programs that promote the mental health of Black people in Canada.
The work of these community-led projects enhances participants' understanding of mental health, its determinants, and raises awareness of available mental health resources. They provide a safe and culturally relevant place where community members can access high-quality programing, resources, and supports.
We are committed to supporting community-led projects that aim to increase equity and address the underlying determinants of mental health, including a focus on anti-Black racism. Future project receiving funding will include those that strive to strengthen or adapt mental health supports and services to meet the needs of Black communities in Canada, develop new interventions to promote positive mental health and increase access to opportunities and conditions conducive to health for all.
Having access to culturally representative care is critical to managing mental health. Black-led and evidence-based projects will have a positive and sustainable impact on the mental health of Black people in Canada.
