Chinese Mental Wellness Association of Canada
The Chinese Mental Wellness Association of Canada (Chinese: 加拿大華人情緒健康協會) is a non-profit, volunteer based organization, located in Richmond, British Columbia.
Aims
CMWAC provides mental health education and information to affected Canadians and their families, offers supportive and referral services such as counselling, advocacy and support to mental health consumers and their families, and builds support networks where people can share their experiences and have a nurturing environment that promotes recovery and well-being.[1]
History
CMWAC (formally the Richmond Chinese Mental Health Support Group) is a registered non-profit charitable organization that was established in 1995 as a grassroots organization.[2]
CMWAC approach their task with the awareness of the social and cultural conditions that often hide the Chinese mind beneath layers of Confucius teachings. Through understanding of the ways in which emotions are expressed in the Chinese, CMWAC seeks to reduce the social stigma associated with mental illness within Canadian culture and Chinese-Canadian culture.
CMWAC provides services to over 300 members in the Vancouver and Richmond areas and has provided services to more than 700 people since its inception. Some of the services provided by CMWAC include seminars on how to improve communication skills and self-esteem, educational programs tailored to those experiencing depression, anxiety, or extreme stress, community independence programs, and older adult services.
One of the organization's achievements is the development of a peer support program. This service provides one-on-one assistance to people who are recovering from mental illness. Peer support workers, who have personal experience with mental illness, are trained in CMWAC-developed programs to help the consumer work towards goals that foster independence and mental wellness. Together, the peer support worker and consumer achieve goals, such as accessing community resources, stress managements, taking the bus, and budgeting.
Potential consumers learn of CMWAC through the Red Book Directory of Community Services (a list of community services in the Vancouver/Richmond Health District published by the local health authority), hospital referrals, public speakers, and by word-of-mouth. Consumers are mainly Chinese-Canadians, but services are open to all ethnicities and anyone who is interested in receiving support for improving their mental wellness.
CMWAC is headed by a volunteer Board of Directors including a psychiatrist, a general practitioner, a Peer Support counsellor, and the founding members of the organization. In addition, individuals volunteer their time and energy to improving mental health in their community. Initial funding originated from the Vancouver Richmond Coastal Health Authority with continued funding from the BC Gaming branch and the private sector.
Cost
Fees are charged for membership, counselling, English classes, and religious study classes. Donations provide additional revenues to the association.[3]