Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association Prioritizes Mental Health Programs for Black Residents

The Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association seeks to further engage African, Black and Caribbean communities through accessible mental health education, programs and supports that promote validation and healing.

The initiative responds to NACCA’s five-year strategic priorities.

A community survey and focus groups conducted by CQ Business Consulting Inc. on behalf of the organization provided insight into the needs of the Newmarket community.

“In the past, we have championed innovative programs, such as our culturally appropriate mental health education and support programs. Over the next five years, we will take the next step in our development while continuing to prioritize mental health,” said NACCA President Jerisha Grant-Hall.

“Access to safe mental health support spaces is critically important to members of our community.”

NACCA said it aims to meet community needs by providing access to programs and services that positively impact Black youth, families and seniors in Newmarket and surrounding areas.

NACCA currently provides the following free mental health services to members of Black communities in York Region:

• Individual Mental Health and Wellness Therapy — a network of therapists provides culturally appropriate psychological support to Black residents of York Region.

• Youth Academic Success Initiative (YSSI) — NACCA is a proud partner of the Youth Academic Success Initiative (YSSI), which is an ethno-specific collaboration comprised of seven York and Toronto-based agencies working together to foster the educational and holistic success of black youth.

• Core Youth Mental Wellness Program

Thanks to the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, NACCA is the proud recipient of the Resilient Communities Fund — Promising Young People Fund (RCF). The fund will be used to develop a foundational Black youth mental wellness program, recognizing that mental wellness is a priority for the community of young people who have been isolated by the two-year pandemic and who have witnessed and endured of anti-black racism on a daily basis. base. The hiring and planning process is underway, with more details on the program coming soon.

NACCA also offers the following mental health workshops:

• The impact of anti-Black racism in Ontario’s education system. This September 21 workshop at 7 p.m. will discuss the impact of anti-Black racism in Ontario’s education system and the subsequent impact/outcomes in the lives of Black children. It is a fact that anti-black racism has a direct impact on mental, physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being.

• Mental Health Support Team, York Regional Police — Find out about the role of the frontline officer and mental health support team when dealing with someone in crisis. This workshop on September 27 at 7 p.m. will discuss the role of the police department’s mental health team when responding to a crisis call in the community. There will be a discussion of cultural impact and stigma, what is allowed by police and community supports and referrals. He is presented by Ava Griffith of York Regional Police.

For more information on NACCA’s mental health programs and workshop tickets, visit https://www.naccacommunity.ca/mental-health.html.

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