Better supporting the mental health needs of African Caribbean Canadians; Cafcan hosts mental health conference

BY PAUL JUNOR

On Thursday, May 4^th, 2023, the Caribbean African Canadian Social Services (CAFCAN) hosted the media day at the BMO IFL Conference Centre in Toronto. It coincided with the start of mental health week and brought together: caregivers, parents, social service providers, and mental health practitioners for four days of sharing of evidence-based culturally-centred Afrocentric teaching from May 2^nd to May 5^th. The purpose of the gathering was to better support the mental health needs of African-Caribbean Canadians. It was in partnership with Black Creek Community Health Centre, Green Shield and Roots Community Services.

CAFCAN is a B3 Organization: Black-led, Black -serving and Black-mandated. They are a registered charitable organization whose primary focus is on building and strengthening the service framework for: African Canadian children, youth and families through culturally safe individual and group counselling supports, case management services, employment services, youth mentorship, and youth outreach programs.

Since it was started as an offshoot of the Jamaican Canadian Association, it has focused on creating a safe and supportive environment that promotes the well-being and success of African Canadian individuals and communities.

The theme for this year was, “Towards Culturally Grounded & Socially Just Practices.” Day one featured Dr. Wade Nobles, Co-Founder and Past President of the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi). He spoke about the importance of a worldview he described as, “A comprehensive idea, order and understanding belief about the nature of reality and the meaning of being, the proper role of society, and the ways things are, or should be. “They are formed from, “Ancestral insight (inspiration), historical experience and psycho-cultural retention/inventions,” and “Westernization, Cultural Imposition, Epistemic and Mentacide,” influenced and distorted it.”

The featured speakers included:

• Dr Samaru Sahlu, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada Psychiatry
• Dr Wesley Cricklow, Critical Race Intersectional Theorist
• Francis Garwie, CEO of Carea Community Health Centre
• Debbie Nicholas, Holistic Movement Specialist/Creative Wellness Professional

The media day started with a dynamic drum procession by Quammie and Ngoma Drum Ensemble leading the guests from the reception to the dinner area. For Africans, the drum Is the voice of the village. It calls the people together.

Ginelle Skerritt (CEO York Region Children’s Region Aid Society) was the MC of the event. There was an acknowledgment of Harriet Ekperigin (VP Mental Health, GreenShield Canada) Representatives from Black Creek Community Health Centre, Roots Community Services, and Youth Link were present in the audience.

Ginelle introduces Floydeen Charles-Fridal (Executive Director of CAFCAN). She recounts the history of the premier social delivery organization. She told the audience that it has increased significantly from its humble beginnings to the present where it is now receiving almost $4 million in funding. She states that for CAFCAN to be “effective” and “impactful” having the right people is crucial.

She states that CAFCAN intends to develop more partnerships as it seeks to be the agency that’s providing evidence-based African-centred work; not looking at Eurocentric models or the research, but doing it for ourselves, understanding it for ourselves.

She concluded her impassioned address by stating explicitly, “We’re here to make a difference, to be leaders, to fight, and to agitate, and sometimes say, no, because sometimes when people offer you things, even for free, it doesn’t mean you should take it.”

Anyone interested in learning about CAFCAN can check the website: www.cafcan.org