Many Canadians encounter mental health hardships, but certain people face disproportionate challenges when it comes to mental health because of racism, discrimination, socio-economic status or social exclusion. That is why Brampton South MP Sonia Sidhu convened a roundtable with the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Carolyn Bennett, to explore the impacts on the mental health of residents from marginalized communities in Brampton.
It was a chance for the Minister to hear about the important work that organizations are doing in Brampton, specifically when it comes to providing accessible, patient-centred, and culturally relevant services during the pandemic and now.
On March 14, 2022, Minister Bennett announced that the federal government is taking a significant step forward by working with the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and stakeholders to coordinate the development of national standards for mental health and substance use services. The federal government recognizes the importance of delivering vital mental health and substance use support for Canadians who need it most and the SCC is playing an important role in this work.
The government will continue to support local projects which have the potential to improve health outcomes for marginalized groups and which support the mental health and substance use needs of people from coast to coast to coast.
If you or someone you know is having a hard time, take the first step and check in on yourself by visiting WellnessTogether.ca.
