With research showing how Black youth face systemic barriers when it comes to accessing mental health care, CTVNews.ca tells the story of some young Black Canadians creating grassroots services that provide alternative mental health support to their community.
The Black Student Union utilizes its social media to educate the Concordia student body
How four young women started the organization
Concordia students Amaria Phillips, Lorry Joseph, Tanou Bah and Ernithe Edmond were all shocked to see there was no Black club or union at Concordia University.
“We were like, ‘Wait a minute, there’s no actual like, Black club?’ It’s either Caribbean or African? But there’s not one for just Black people,” said Phillips.
For example, McGill, the other anglophone university in Montreal, does have a Black Student Network, which acts similarly to a union. Before the BSU initiative, this overarching support would fall under the Concordia Student Union’s responsibilities.