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| 205-2929 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5N 4C8 Phone: (604)718-2777 Fax: (604)298-0747 Email: amssa@amssa.org |
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Watch more videos > Chris Friesen > Dr. Arminee Kazanjian > Sarah Bowen, Ph.D. |
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 Speech
of Dr.Soma Ganesan( Audio Total Time : 6min 45sec ) |
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| ( Soma Ganesan - Video Total Time: 6 min 45 sec ) | ||||
| Dr. Soma Ganesan discussed the evolution of mental health services in Vancouver and how the goals
of a successful program are closely tied to the program's ability to provide accessible, inclusive and culturally
relevant services. The initial partnership between Vancouver Association for the Survivors of Torture (VAST),
the Cross Cultural Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital, and the Multicultural Liaison Workers Program of
the Vancouver Community Mental Health Service was the origin for what is today an expanded and collaborative model
for mental health services. The success of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority's Mental Health Services can also
be attributed to the multiple community-based partnerships that the services have formed and continue to pursue.
Dr. Ganesan shared his belief that the expertise on how to provide services for immigrant and refugee populations
is within the realm of the immigrant service agencies and that forming liaisons with community-based groups informs
the health care system. "We are still working in a western-base model." Interpreter services are imperative for health care, but they do not form a full response to providing culturally competent care. Exploring models such as that developed in the partnership between ISS, Bridge Clinic and VAST may provide a sample of the goal we are aiming to achieve. A recent partnership with the Provincial Language Service also resulted in community-development based model for health care translations - innovative approaches that respond to changing needs. |
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• Culturally responsive care needs to be made accountable - creating reporting mechanisms to substantiate the work that is being done. • Training for mental health care workers and other health care providers that centres on cultural appropriate and responsive care, diversity issues, and working with interpreters and translators. • Understand and integrate the community development principles that guide the work done by immigrant service agencies. |
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