Resources Supporting Asian Communities
Author
Lucia Fernandez
Hello, Bonjour, my name is Lucia Fernandez, and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I live in what is currently known as Newmarket, Ontario Canada, the traditional territories of the Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe peoples. The treaties of this land includes the Williams Treaties of 1923, which have greatly disadvantaged the original peoples of this land in many ways, including but not limited to unfair compensation for the land, disruption of harvesting rights, inadequate reserve lands, and ongoing denials of justice. I am a cisgender, bisexual woman of Latin ancestry. I immigrated to Ontario, Canada when I was four years old and have lived here ever since. My experience as a first-generation, Latina immigrant greatly impacts my perspectives and understanding of the world. I acknowledge those in my community who made it possible for me to live where I am today. However, I only speak on behalf of myself and do not intend to speak for others. I am passionate about environmental and societal justice, and I am privileged to be in the process of obtaining a post-secondary education in Political Science and Environmental Sustainability. This greatly inspires me to continue learning and working towards the goal of holding those in positions of power accountable.
Below is a continuously growing list of resources and organizations that work to uplift Asian communities in what is currently Canada. Supporting Asian-led organizations, and those that provide invaluable services to Asian communities, amplifies underrepresented voices and aids in combating systemic racism. Browse through to find relevant organizations and click the links to find out more:
- Grace Health Centre offers counselling and psychotherapy services in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English that are free with OHIP.
- Asian Initiative in Mental Health – Toronto Western Hospital offers pharmacological therapy, psychotherapy, counselling, crisis prevention and management, to enhance the mental health and well-being and the quality of life of individuals and families through culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions, including psycho-education, assessment, and treatment, free with OHIP.
- Hong Fook Mental Health Association offers supportive counselling, stable and affordable housing assistance, group psychotherapy, mental health recovery programs, wellness training workshops, and more in Cantonese, Mandarin, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Korean, and English. This is available to anyone in the Greater Toronto Area.
- British Columbia Virtual Mental Health Supports offer crisis support hotlines, counselling, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
- SUCCESS Counselling offers individual, couples, and family counselling in Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Farsi, and English in Vancouver and Coquitlam, British Columbia.
- Asian Canadian Therapist Directory is a nationwide resource that helps facilitate the search for a therapist.
- Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic offers legal aid services, community legal clinics, legal aid certificates, and family law services in Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and English in Toronto.
- St. Stephen’s Community House offers childcare, conflict resolution training, employment training, homelessness services, English language training, and counselling in Toronto.
- Community Family Services of Ontario offers COVID-19 specific free counselling and EI application assistance services, as well as counselling, psychotherapy, and family counselling services in Cantonese, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and English across the Greater Toronto Area.
- Butterfly Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network offers 24/7 support hotline, legal support, health resources, public education in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English in Toronto and Vancouvers.
- Vancouver Island Counselling Services for Immigrants and Refugees offers culturally relevant mental health counselling to immigrants and refugees living in Canada with trained interpreters in Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, English, and more. Services are currently available online.
- DiverseCity Community Resources Society supports newcomers and racialized communities with interpretation and translation services, has a skills training centre, a language testing centre, mental health services, and much more available in Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and English in British Columbia.
