Language and culture should not be barriers to mental health care.
Since January, HF Care’s pilot partnership with the Jane and Finch Community and Family Centre has allowed us to expand our culturally rooted programming directly into the neighbourhood.
This initiative reflects a key priority of our new strategic plan: Strategic Access Expansion. By strengthening our presence in Toronto’s west end, we are working to ensure that access to Asian mental health care in the Greater Toronto Area is not determined by postal code.
For many Southeast Asian residents, distance and transit are real obstacles. As Mai Vy, Program Coordinator at HF Care, explains:
“We know a lot of the Southeast Asian community connected to HF Care is in that area. We want to meet people where they are and make sure our programs are more accessible. Some clients feel anxious about travelling far. Many want something local, in their language, with people who understand their background.”
Kennes Lin, our Director of Clinical Services and Community Education, believes that local presence matters.
“Opening programming at the Jane and Finch Community Centre allows us to better serve Vietnamese- and Khmer-speaking residents who face language and cultural barriers to care. Being present locally helps us build trust and deliver support in ways that are culturally grounded and accessible.”
Currently, HF Care’s offerings at the Community Center include: providing document translation support and community-based wellness activities.
- A weekly Cambodian in-person wellness group focused on movement, mindfulness, and facilitated discussion.
- A bi-weekly Vietnamese drop-in providing document translation support and community-based wellness activities.
If you know someone in the Jane and Finch area who could benefit from culturally rooted mental health support, we encourage you to share this with them.
You can find full program details and upcoming dates on our events calendar.
