AN ESSENTIAL PARADIGM SHIFT IN MENTAL HEALTH Sharing our sense of urgency for structural change BY DR. WANDA THOMAS BERNARD, RSW
This article was originally published as a foreword in Repositioning Social Work Practice in Mental Health in Nova Scotia, which can be downloaded online at nscsw.org/reposition. There is a growing body of research in Nova Scotia which recognizes the profound and harmful effects of racism on the health and well-being of individuals and communities, with calls to address disparities and inequities in health care, including the provision of mental health services (Beagan et al. 2012; Bernard et al. 2014; Etowa et al. 2017; James et al. 2010). In one research study, participants called for major systemic changes necessary for effective intervention and treatment to reduce the harms of mental health and addictions issues in the African Nova Scotian community (Willis, Berry & Bernard forthcoming). Many of the suggested changes focus on breaking the silence about these topics and reducing stigma. Furthermore, research findings have highlighted the need for more community-based supports
16 Connection | Winter 2021
and services to provide outreach, intervention and treatment for African Nova Scotians throughout the province. The Association of Black Social Workers (ABSW) has been attempting to fill the gaps in service provision for over forty years, yet the stigma prevails and efforts to ensure more culturally relevant mental services have not been realized.
As I read this research report, I became excited about the potential for systemic changes in mental health and addictions services at this time in our collective history.
I was especially drawn to the principles that have been identified for guiding mental health policy and approaches to clinical services. On their own, these principles could lead to
