Symposium Evaluation

Organised into Head, Heart and Feet sections

Head (What did you learn?)

  • I learnt about what it means to truly care for mental health to really and honestly try to help those in need. I learned more about spirituality without it being only through the lens of religion.
  • What I learned today is [that] trauma plays a big role in low-income communities & should be treated with caution & love. More people are affected with trauma than you think. Handle with care & love.
  • How overrated words are in the healing process. The soul moves through storms animated by relationality, love, just being together.
  • Community is the bedrock of developing [a] Black Centric Care Trauma Program
  • That one “size” does not fit all when it comes to mental health programs and dealing with trauma.
  • Think big, act now, start small. Start acknowledging our trauma in order to start the healing process.
  • That our elders and younger generation still have much to learn from [one] another & through mental community healing spaces.

Heart (How did you feel about the symposium?)

  • 10/10! It was really insightful and made me happy to learn from people who are passionate.
  • Driven, inspired, encouraged, hopeful and grateful .
  • I really feel good, I am in [a] place I feel I can help my son, and all youth around me. 
  • Feeling hopeful knowing organizations such as Wanasah have our (Regent Park) back! 
  • Extremely informative! Felt like we were united and can heal as a collective/unit. 
  • Enjoyed it, I am taking away many things. Reminded of challenges Black youth face, liked how involved community is. How important it is to have many agencies working together. Have to create models of care that support youth. 
  • Invited, recognized, real family/love.  .

Feet (What will you do as a result of the symposium?)

  • As a result of the symposium, I plan on expanding my knowledge in this field of study. I want to learn more and understand so I could play an even greater role in the betterment of my community. I want to leave an impact on my community and not stay a bystander and to do something more.
  • I’ll use my deepened knowledge in my professional role to help better my connection and understanding.
  • Devote more of my time into my community
  • Spread the word on Black-centric care/model with the hopes of it becoming a universal framework
  • Reach out to friends/families in time of distress, rather than thinking I could/should deal with it on my own.
  • I want to learn to be more creative [in] approaches to self-care for myself and support plans for my clients.
  • Continue to listen, share honestly, and be more intentional about creating safety.
Referrals
Clients are connected to Wanasah through agencies/ self-referral /health care providers / family/ friends/ youths workers.
Intake Process
Intake worker will conduct assessment to determine eligibility for client based on inclusion criteria. If the client is not appropriate for the Trauma Program by starting at phase 1, they will be triaged to other Wanasah programs and services.
Eligibility Criteria
  • Identify with history of trauma
  • Black youth aged 12-25
  • Ability to attend regularly and/ or get full benefit of therapy with supports (e.g. no acute symptoms that interfere with ability to attend such as acute psychosis, severe substance use, excessive case management needs, acute suicidality)
  • Ability to participate in group treatment and respect the group guidelines
  • Capacity to formulate goals for trauma therapy.