African-Canadian Community Organisations Convene Town Hall On Lack Of Mental Health Services For Black Youth At CAMH

TORONTO, Ontario April 25, 2017 – A coalition, of over 30 African-Canadian community organizations, has convened an urgent town hall meeting, at the Scarborough Civic Centre, on Thursday, April 27.

Including lead organisations, the African Canadian Legal Clinic (ACLC) and the Tabono Institute, the coalition is inviting health and mental health professionals, and youth, to discuss growing concerns of anti-Black racism at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and to share information and identify options for relevant action.

The coalition is justifiably concerned about:

1. The diminution of Canada’s only public-funded ethno-specific Mental Health and

Addictions program for African-Canadian Youth at CAMH – SAPACCY (Substance

Abuse Program for African Canadian and Caribbean Youth);

2. Over-representation of African-Canadian clients in clinical programs at CAMH;
3. The lack of leadership and appropriate response to address anti-Black racism at CAMH,

serious gaps regarding CAMH’s clinical environment, and poor treatment of African-Canadian clients in CAMH’s clinical care;

4. The lack of African-Canadian representation on the Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership at CAMH; and
5. Deaths and over-restraint of African-Canadian men in the care of CAMH.

At the time of the town hall, the coalition will release a joint statement, calling on CAMH; the Minister of Health and Long Term Care; Minister of Children and Youth Services and Minister with responsibility for Anti-racism; Toronto Central, Central, Central West and Central East Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs); and the City of Toronto, to demonstrate a higher level of accountability to African-Canadian taxpayers, and take immediate joint action to stabilize and expand the SAPACCY program.

The town hall will be held on Thursday, April 27, between 6:00PM and 8:30PM, at the Scarborough Civic Centre, Council Chambers, 150 Borough Drive, Scarborough.

For more information call the ACLC at (416) 214-4747 or email the Tabono Institute at email tabonoinstitute@gmail.com.