Cross-cultural communities

Mental Illness in my Community

South Asian Youth Mental Health Team (SAYMH) youth ambassador Jasleen wants everyone to recognize mental health problems as real health problems, not imaginary conditions. She started small—educating herself and then encouraging her family to recognize mental health—and now uses her voice to educate and raise awareness in her community.

Bringing the Community Together

The South Asian Youth Mental Health Team (SAYMH) helps BC’s South Asian communities find culturally appropriate care, navigate health care systems, and counter the stigma of mental health problems. Youth are trained to be ambassadors, and they facilitate workshops with community organizations, service providers, advocates, and people with lived experience. Learn how SAYMH is changing conversations around mental health.

Dance Therapy

Arjun felt isolated and bullied, in part due to the stigma of mental health problems in his South Asian community. Through his passion and success in bhangra, he discovered that music and dance are an important opportunity to change the way we think about mental health. Now a dance instructor, he uses his own experiences to help his students find their own well-being.

Cross-cultural communities

Our communities are culturally diverse. We know that mental health and substance use problems affect everyone, regardless of their background, culture or ethnicity, but current mental health and substance use services may not be able to respond to the diverse needs of our community members. While some services are underway, we still need to increase our awareness of cultural factors so we can help all community members equally.

Stay Connected

Sign up for our various e-newsletters featuring mental health and substance use resources.

  • eVisions: BC's Mental Health and Substance Use Journal, a theme-based magazine
  • Healthy Minds/Healthy Campuses events and resources
  • Within Reach: Resources from HeretoHelp
  • Jessie's Legacy eating disorders prevention resources, events and information

Sign up now