As part of our campaign to raise awareness about the impacts of anti- Black racism on mental health outcomes of the Somali community, each year in the month of March, PCTOI hosts public awareness sessions to discuss the ways that anti-Black racism and mental health intersect.
Communities get loud about how stigma and shame still prevent too many people from speaking up, and about how systems do not provide culturally appropriate support to Black people who are struggling. This year, Positive Change Toronto Initiative organized three different events which commemorate Mental Health Week to highlight, support and improve the mental health of the Somali Canadian community in Toronto. These events aim to shed some light upon the unique mental health challenges faced by Somali community, as well as to engage members of the community, government and health care to take actionable steps to discuss and address racism and racial discrimination.
