The mental health of employees is foundational to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive (DEI) organizational culture because psychological well-being enables individuals—especially those from marginalized or underrepresented groups—to engage fully and safely at work. Likewise, strong DEI programs can positively influence mental health by addressing systemic stressors and creating conditions for all employees to thrive.

Because of Canada’s multicultural makeup and the unique challenges faced by various communities, diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to this country’s mental health sector. Canada’s population includes a wide array of cultural, ethnic, and linguistic groups. Immigrants, refugees, ethnocultural, Indigenous, and racialized populations often encounter systemic barriers such as language obstacles, cultural misunderstandings, and discrimination, which can impede access to mental health care. These challenges can lead to underdiagnosis, misdiagnosis, and inadequate treatment, exacerbating mental health issues within these communities.

Incorporating DEI ensures that mental health services are accessible, culturally relevant, and effective for all individuals, regardless of their background. 

DiversiPro is proud to have partnered with the Mental Health Commission of Canada in its efforts to create a more inclusive organization. In this interview with Michel Rodrigue, the President and CEO of the MHCC, we explore their DEI journey and why it’s important to embed diversity, equity, and inclusion in mental health services that benefit all Canadians.

Equity in Action: MHCC’s Bold Moves to Transform Mental Health in Canada

Over the past three years, the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) has made notable strides in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within mental health services across Canada. Key initiatives and developments include:

Development of an Integrated Equity Framework:

In June 2023, the MHCC released the report “Toward an Integrated and Comprehensive Equity Framework,” addressing persistent inequities in mental health access and outcomes. This framework aims to harmonize various approaches—such as sex and gender-based analysis plus (SGBA+), health equity, intersectionality, anti-racism, decolonization, and mental health recovery—into a cohesive strategy for mental health policy and programming. 

Support for Immigrant, Refugee, Ethnocultural, and Racialized (IRER) Populations:

Recognizing the unique challenges faced by IRER communities, the MHCC has prioritized enhancing mental health services to be more accessible and culturally sensitive. Efforts include developing specialized programs and involving communities in planning to ensure services meet diverse needs.  

The MHCC has prioritized DEI in its initiatives:

• Culturally Adapted Therapies: The MHCC supported the development of culturally adapted cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) tailored for Canadians of South Asian origin, aiming to make mental health interventions more culturally sensitive and effective.  
• Promising Practices: In Ontario, programs like Across Boundaries in Toronto provide ethno-racial mental health services, while the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization offers clinical counselling for immigrants and refugees. These initiatives focus on delivering culturally appropriate care to diverse populations.  
• Equity Framework: The MHCC released a report titled “Toward an Integrated and Comprehensive Equity Framework,” which provides guidance on integrating various approaches to promote equity in mental health policy and programming.  
• Support for Black Communities: Through the Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund, the MHCC supports community-based initiatives that address the unique mental health needs of Black Canadians, including projects focused on Black LGBTQI+ populations.  
• Enhancing Crisis Services: The MHCC has worked to improve equity, diversity, and inclusion within Canada’s crisis and distress lines, ensuring that services are accessible.  

Through these initiatives, the MHCC demonstrates a sustained commitment to embedding DEI principles within Canada’s mental health landscape, striving for a system that is equitable and responsive to the needs of all communities.

Click here to find out how you can use the IDEA Organizational Assessment to measure the diversity and climate within your organization, as well as the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) to assess and develop intercultural competence.