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Tamil Mental Health Research - Dissemination Forum
On April 29, 2005 , Family Service Association of Toronto (FSA Toronto) organized a forum to disseminate the findings of a mental health study jointly undertaken with the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Toronto ( U. of T. ).
This comprehensive study titled "A Community in Distress" focused on the mental health needs, care, and settlement and adaptation issues faced by the Tamils living in Toronto. The initiative originated from consultations that took place four years ago between the Tamil community advisory council at FSA Toronto and the Culture, Community and Health Studies program (CCHS) of the U of T, as a means to find appropriate solutions and develop programs to support the community of about 200,000 people - most of them from war affected areas of Sri Lanka.
Faced with the challenges of settlement and adaptation in a new country and dealing with pre-migration trauma, the community experienced several incidents of social distress culminating in unfortunate crises such as suicides and murder-suicides. Although there were sad stories, the community lacked a scientific study to substantiate the factors affecting people's lives and to bring the problems out in the open in order to draw the attention of mental health service sector. FSA Toronto and the CCHS recognized the need for a comprehensive study, and therefore put together a successful funding proposal to carry out such research.
The three-year project, which was subsequently extended an additional year due to its elaborate nature, was funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research .
Along with FSA Toronto, other founding partners in the project were South Asian Women’s Centre and SACEM (Society for the Aid of Sri Lanka Minorities). As the research progressed, several other community organizations interested in the mental health needs of the community also participated through the project advisory council. Dr. Morton Beiser, formerly of the CCHS, has been the principal investigator of the project, assisted by Abi Singam, Nalini Pandalangat and Dr. Laura Simich, Mary Alberti (for a short time), Naga Ramalingam (FSA Toronto), and Dr. Tham Vasanthakumar of SACEM participated as associates.
The study involved 1600 randomly selected adults aged 18 and over, who participated in a comprehensive survey assessing mental health needs and the factors affecting mental health with a focus on anxiety, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and perceived quality of life. The survey aimed to find the nature and extent of mental health issues in the community and the positive aspects of health that would enable people to cope. As well, service gaps in areas of newcomer settlement and adaptation were explored in the survey.
The dissemination forum participants mainly comprised of service providers from mainstream and ethno-racial community agencies. Dr. Beiser and his research team presented the findings along with a presentation by a member of the research advisory council. Dr. Joseph Chandrakanthan of the U. of T. reflected upon his experience working with the community, and how this research could pave the way for culturally appropriate programs and increased wellness in the community.
The afternoon session consisted of presentations from Steve Lurie, Executive Director of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Toronto Branch; Martha Ocampo , Executive Director of Across Boundaries (an ethno-racial mental health centre), and Jayanthy Reynold, program manager, South Asian Women’s Centre. The presentations and discussions that followed, moderated by Laurel Rothman, included cultural competency in mental health services, working within an antiracist/anti-oppression framework, and mental health problems faced by new immigrant South Asian women. The Forum ended with break-out discussions on topics such as settlement, housing/homelessness, community capacity building, prevention, education and research, policy and advocacy.
More than 160 people from various agencies across the GTA participated in the forum. Mr. Peter Crosby inaugurated the forum, giving a short history and overview of FSA Toronto’s involvement in the project. He also thanked the agencies and people who participated in the study which could be used for developing culturally appropriate mental health services not only for the Tamil community, but also for other immigrant communities with similar situations and backgrounds.
We have received very positive comments on the public dissemination of study findings concerning ethno-racial communities. There have been several requests from participants, agencies and media for the final report on the findings. The report will be released in a few months and we will announce the release on this page.
Special thanks to Laurel Rothman for her assistance and input provided to make this event a success. Karu Kanapathipillai, our volunteer at the Community Action Unit, was of immense help in all aspects of organizing this forum.
