Wednesday 3 April, 2019
Mental health is a subject that is sometimes a taboo in our community as it carries a certain sigma for those suffering from emotional or mental illness. In order to shed more light on the mental health needs of Ottawa’s Black community, Ottawa Public Health has launched a comprehensive survey focussing on people of African descent, aged 16 to 64, in Canada’s national capital. The objective is to gather and analyze data which demonstrate the experiences of Ottawa’s black community in relation to mental health. The survey will be centred on the research question: What are the experiences of Ottawa’s African, Caribbean & Black (ACB) community’ with the mental health care system?
The project was launched on Wednesday at Somerset West Community Health Centre on Eccles Street with a dozen service providers and Black community leaders in attendance. Speaking on the survey, project leader Chinedu Oraka said that it would involve both completion of a comprehensive questionnaire and a face-to-face interview with participants to gauge their ability to access mental health services. Each participant would receive an honorarium of a pre-paid Visa card valued at $25. Attendees at the launch included staff from Somerset West Community Health Centre, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organisation, South East Ottawa Community Health Centre, Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre and Pastor Joseph Kiirya from River Jordan Ministries.
For participate in this project or get more info, contact: Chinedu Oraka MD, Research Assistant, Mental Health, Ottawa Public Health, 613-580-2424 Ext. 15750; [email protected].
All photos copyright Black Ottawa Scene