Debate around the mental health of Black people in Repentigny
Rédaction Intexto ·
"Mental health cannot be understood out of context" – Dr. Michael Obas, psychologist.
The organization LAKAY held a workshop this Thursday in Repentigny for practitioners in Lanaudière, focused on the specific challenges faced by Black communities. This activity is part of LAKAY's project funded by the Government of Canada through the federal program "Promoting Health Equity: Mental Health Fund for Black Communities."
The program supports culturally adapted community initiatives aimed at improving access to and equity in mental health services for Black individuals. Facilitated by Dr. Michael Obas, a psychologist, the gathering brought together professionals from various fields to reflect on intervention practices and strengthen the tools available on the ground.
At the heart of the discussions: the daily reality of Black individuals facing barriers to accessing services, stigmatization, and the effects of systemic racism on psychological well-being. The speaker particularly emphasized the importance of culturally safe interventions, capable of recognizing the social, historical, and cultural dimensions that shape the expression of distress, trust in institutions, and the care journey.
"Mental health cannot be understood out of context. We cannot separate individual suffering from the collective conditions that fuel it: experiences of discrimination, chronic stress, isolation, performance pressure, or migratory grief," said Dr. Obas, urging practitioners to adapt their approaches to better reach those affected.
For LAKAY, the workshop is part of a broader commitment to train, raise awareness among, and equip intervention sectors in the region, so that the services offered are more accessible, more humane, and more relevant for the entire population, in line with the federal program's objectives.
"We felt a genuine openness from practitioners this morning. When we talk about the mental health of Black communities, we are also talking about trust, dignity, and cultural safety. Our goal is to build bridges between the community and services, so that people no longer have to choose between staying silent or feeling misunderstood. This workshop, funded through the support of the Government of Canada, is a concrete step toward more just and more effective practices in Lanaudière." – Pierre Richard Thomas, director of LAKAY.
LAKAY thus continues its commitment to strengthening the capacity of practitioners and supporting an approach to mental health that recognizes the lived reality of communities, while fostering collaboration between community organizations and professional services.