Community Mental Health Awareness Project
About Us:
For over 40 years, Tesoc Multicultural Settlement and Community Services (TESOC) has supported newcomers of diverse backgrounds living in the GTA. We are committed to helping newcomers successfully transition into society through settlement, employment and personal growth programs. Our services are based on promoting self-sufficiency, well-being and prosperity.
Past and Current Initiatives:
The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful for many people and communities. Everyone reacts differently during stressful times. It is normal to feel sad, distressed, worried, confused, scared or angry when experiencing a situation such as COVID-19. Anxiety about COVID-19 is not unusual, you probably worry about the potential impact on yourself and your family. Even during these times, many individuals feel uncomfortable or avoid talking about their mental health and overall well-being. Uncertain situations like this outbreak can cause strong emotions in both adults and children. During this time, TESOC has supported the community by hosting numerous programs that have allowed individuals to support their positive mental health through individual short-term counselling as well as group sessions.
Our short-term counselling support has provided ongoing sessions to over 50 clients suffering from various mental health challenges such as; depression, stress, anxiety and addiction. Through this service, clients received valuable skills for self-care, conflict resolution and problem-solving.
The “Youth Wellness Expo” was conducted in 2019 to provide education and training to Tamil Language Instructors with strategies to support the well-being of their students. Teachers learned about signs of mental health challenges in youth and how to engage their students to support their well-being. Participants reported becoming more knowledgeable about the mental health struggles youth experience. With this awareness, they felt they had also gained skills that they can practice to ensure their students are supported.
A “Virtual Wellness Support” session took place with over 30 participants in which we focused on Seniors, Adults, Youth and caregivers experiencing anxiety, depression or other mental health challenges arising from COVID-19 and isolation. Through this session, the participants learned about the impact of stress on their health, both physical and mental health as well as self-care strategies to support their well-being.
Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was also discussed in a virtual seminar, “ A New Chapter: Addressing Trauma,” to support those impacted by sexual violence as well as those who have experienced trauma and have experienced heightened levels of anxiety, stress and depression due to the pandemic. Participants have reported being better able to manage their anxiety as well as learning valuable self-care strategies to maintain positive mental health.
The “Creative Minds” conference was held to support youth experiencing stress as a result of the pandemic and supporting their well-being as they return to secondary and post-secondary schools. The objective of the conference was to encourage, inspire and empower youth to become healthy and resilient. Youth learned coping mechanisms as well as self-care strategies that will help them prepare for the new school year.
The "COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence and Mental Health" virtual forum was held in partnership with Scarborough Health Network to discuss the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine, addressing barriers related to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and apprehension, implications of COVID-19 for mental health and healthy ways to cope with COVID-19 stress and anxiety. The participant were able to directly ask questions and interact with an Infection Control and Prevention Specialist and Psychiatrist to address any concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Future Initiatives:
With your generous donations, we will be able to expand and strengthen our services and provide more opportunities to support mental health and well-being in the community, such as additional mental health seminars, forums and virtual events.
TESOC aims to deliver Mental Health Awareness to the communities with the following goals and objectives:
Goals:
1. Aim to provide a series of workshops and training on mental health awareness and suicide prevention for youth aged 13- 29, parents, teachers and caregivers.
2. Aim to create an accessible and inclusive space for those who need mental health services.
Objectives:
1. To improve the mental health of individuals by providing accessible mental health services.
2. To reduce the rates of mental health issues and suicide by providing community members with a place to express their emotions and fostering a sense of belonging.
3. To raise awareness about the mental health continuum, reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, promote help-seeking behaviours and emotional well-being practices, and prevent suicide by providing individual education and necessary support.
4. To increase self-awareness (recognize adaptive vs. maladaptive behaviours, identify triggers, etc.).
For further information, please contact:
Tesoc Multicultural Settlement and Community Services
Phone: +1.416.757.6043
Email: [email redacted]
Web: www.tesoc.org
Social Media: @TESOCMS
