Petitioning Premier of BC Christy Clark and 7 others
More counselling services for South Asians in Surrey, BC
South
Asians are one of the largest communities in British Columbia, and make
up 30-40 % of Surrey's population. This population has grown
exponentially yet social services have remained the same - or even
decreased - over the past two decades.
At the same time, these communities have seen their fair share of social issues that have impacted them dramatically - like gang violence, domestic violence, domestic homicides, addiction and mental health. Too many lives ended much too early and too much needless suffering has occurred. Too often the community members themselves are blamed for these issues, while little attention goes towards the lack of prevention and early intervention services offered to these families. Why should these families trust our criminal justice, health, education and social service systems as time and time again they have been let down by these very systems.
This all comes at a time when members of these very same communities are called upon to support local, provincial and federal candidates as well as charitable causes which rarely turn around and provide specialized services to these donor communities. So much asked for, so little given in return.
Furthermore, given it is often families that are struggling, there is a need for more holistic, wrap-around services that work with the entire family. Note: the lack of responsive and holistic services for all communities is needed, but the lack of services for South Asian families - ones that are linguistically and culturally responsive - are especially dire.
Consider this:
- There is one funded counselling position in Surrey for South Asian communities. This is one counsellor for 30-40% of the population, while there are 8-12 counsellors to work with the rest of the English-speaking population - which is 30-40% of Surrey's population. The remaining 20-40% doesn't speak English or a South Asian language and thus may receive no services.
- Minimal mental health outreach and counselling services for South Asians in Surrey
- There is a 'revolving door' of South Asians (mostly men) who end up being driven to the Sobering Centre in Surrey by Police, who once sober, go back and start drinking. No services exist to help these men, who are basically slowly but surely killing themselves while our services fail them.
- Surrey Schools speak often about the number of students they serve, yet many of its programs intended to serve vulnerable students fail to work collaboratively with other community agencies - which is necessary given they lack the resources to do it themselves. The Surrey WRAP program recently received increased funding, yet how much of that money goes to making them more culturally responsive? More transparency is needed to see if what they are doing is even reaching South Asian families.
- Probation has long wait lists for their South Asian men's domestic violence program. A few years back 60 men rated as 'high' or 'medium' risk to re-offend fell off a wait list. Most of these men went back to their homes - without treatment the risk to victims and their children remained. Requests to address that concern were never followed up on by BC Corrections. BC Corrections also has many South Asian clients with addictions issues yet fails to address their needs appropriately. These probation clients are not only harming themselves, but without proper and prompt treatment and counselling, the impact will reach the next generation, who may go on to repeat similar behaviours.
South Asian communities deserve their fair share of counselling and support services. This is not necessarily a funding issue - poorly coordinated services has resulted in minimal impact and thus greater oversight is needed over those who are providing the services.
I represent an agency that has an open mandate and will provide counselling to anyone who needs it (movingforwardfamilyservices.com) - so I'm not just 'complaining' I believe I am trying to be part of the solution - but others need to do their part.
Too often the communities give so much, and get so little in return. With a unified voice, we can change that - we absolutely deserve our fair share!
At the same time, these communities have seen their fair share of social issues that have impacted them dramatically - like gang violence, domestic violence, domestic homicides, addiction and mental health. Too many lives ended much too early and too much needless suffering has occurred. Too often the community members themselves are blamed for these issues, while little attention goes towards the lack of prevention and early intervention services offered to these families. Why should these families trust our criminal justice, health, education and social service systems as time and time again they have been let down by these very systems.
This all comes at a time when members of these very same communities are called upon to support local, provincial and federal candidates as well as charitable causes which rarely turn around and provide specialized services to these donor communities. So much asked for, so little given in return.
Furthermore, given it is often families that are struggling, there is a need for more holistic, wrap-around services that work with the entire family. Note: the lack of responsive and holistic services for all communities is needed, but the lack of services for South Asian families - ones that are linguistically and culturally responsive - are especially dire.
Consider this:
- There is one funded counselling position in Surrey for South Asian communities. This is one counsellor for 30-40% of the population, while there are 8-12 counsellors to work with the rest of the English-speaking population - which is 30-40% of Surrey's population. The remaining 20-40% doesn't speak English or a South Asian language and thus may receive no services.
- Minimal mental health outreach and counselling services for South Asians in Surrey
- There is a 'revolving door' of South Asians (mostly men) who end up being driven to the Sobering Centre in Surrey by Police, who once sober, go back and start drinking. No services exist to help these men, who are basically slowly but surely killing themselves while our services fail them.
- Surrey Schools speak often about the number of students they serve, yet many of its programs intended to serve vulnerable students fail to work collaboratively with other community agencies - which is necessary given they lack the resources to do it themselves. The Surrey WRAP program recently received increased funding, yet how much of that money goes to making them more culturally responsive? More transparency is needed to see if what they are doing is even reaching South Asian families.
- Probation has long wait lists for their South Asian men's domestic violence program. A few years back 60 men rated as 'high' or 'medium' risk to re-offend fell off a wait list. Most of these men went back to their homes - without treatment the risk to victims and their children remained. Requests to address that concern were never followed up on by BC Corrections. BC Corrections also has many South Asian clients with addictions issues yet fails to address their needs appropriately. These probation clients are not only harming themselves, but without proper and prompt treatment and counselling, the impact will reach the next generation, who may go on to repeat similar behaviours.
South Asian communities deserve their fair share of counselling and support services. This is not necessarily a funding issue - poorly coordinated services has resulted in minimal impact and thus greater oversight is needed over those who are providing the services.
I represent an agency that has an open mandate and will provide counselling to anyone who needs it (movingforwardfamilyservices.com) - so I'm not just 'complaining' I believe I am trying to be part of the solution - but others need to do their part.
Too often the communities give so much, and get so little in return. With a unified voice, we can change that - we absolutely deserve our fair share!
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