Toronto mental health centre offers culturally sensitive help
Online courses and pandemic isolation have taken a toll on the mental health of many students. But for those coming here from other countries to study, the stress is even harder.
That’s why Hong Fook Mental Health recently created a new program, specifically to address the needs of Asian university students in the Toronto area.
“I’d say the top thing is isolation because once people lose the opportunity to meet with others, face to face, they feel like they are losing connections between one another,” says peer counsellor Ambrose Jing.
The 26-year-old began at Hong Fook as a participant in the youth program. She says students have been doing courses and assignments online, without family or other supports in Canada. Even though more people are gathering together now, many foreign students are still hesitant to open up to strangers, especially in a different language.
Executive Director Bonnie Wong says Hong Fook has been helping new immigrants overcome language barriers for 40 years now.
“With translation services, escort services, so they have access to professionals to get help,” Wong said.
She says the organization began in 1982, when Canada began seeing a wave of immigrants from Southeast Asia, like Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Later, immigrants from Hong Kong and then mainland China came, each group with different language needs.
Today, Hong Fook offers services in Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese and Korean, plus staff often speak additional Asian languages.
And the mental health programs are presented in a culturally sensitive way.
In many Asian societies, “mental illness may be seen as a kind of family shame or weakness,” explains Wong.
Statistics show that even without language barriers, 56 per cent of people in Canada aren’t getting the mental health support they need.
Ironically, for the new International Students peer support group, the main language of communication is English. But Jing says they sometimes break into their home tongues for some lighter topics, like foods and pop culture, both Western and Asian.
She says the program doesn’t offer therapy, so much as a safe space for young people to express their emotions and tell their stories.
And she has a message of hope for Bell Let’s Talk Day – “You’ll be doing alright.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Defence minister says Canada supports U.S. downing of Chinese balloon
The federal defence Minister says Canada 'unequivocally supports' the United States government's decision to shoot down a high-altitude surveillance balloon that was suspected of spying for China, noting the balloon violated Canadian airspace.

U.S. downs Chinese balloon, drawing a threat from China
The U.S. military on Saturday shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America. China insisted the flyover was an accident involving a civilian aircraft and threatened repercussions.
Former Israeli PM: Putin promised not to kill Zelenskyy
A former Israeli prime minister who served briefly as a mediator at the start of Russia's war with Ukraine says he drew a promise from the Russian president not to kill his Ukrainian counterpart.
New study highlights increasing prevalence of muscle dysmorphia among Canadian boys, young men
Canadian researchers are drawing attention to the increasing prevalence of 'a pathological pursuit of muscularity' among Canadian boys and young men, with a new study that found one in four were at risk of developing what's known as muscle dysmorphia.
Justice minister open to amending bail laws, OPP commissioner says change 'needed now'
Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti says he is open to amending bail laws, which have come under increased scrutiny following the shooting death of an Ontario Provincial Police officer.
China says it strongly opposes U.S. move to shoot down balloon
China's foreign ministry said on Sunday that it expressed strong dissatisfaction and opposition towards the United States' use of force to attack its airship.
Poor oral health could affect the brain later in life: early study
An early study has shown keeping your gums and teeth healthy may have added benefits for your brain health.
'It's devastating': Homeless Canadians at risk as Eastern Canada endures extreme cold, advocates say
As the majority of Eastern Canada stays indoors during an extreme cold weather alert, homeless shelters are struggling to keep up with the demand from unhoused people as temperatures continue to drop.
Extreme cold can bring frostbite and hypothermia. Here are the symptoms to watch for
Canadians will continue to bundle up in the country's east this weekend as a recent bout of extreme cold persists in much of Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. CTVNews.ca looks at the signs and symptoms for frostbite and hypothermia to watch for if exposed to extreme cold.