Finding help

Navjot grew up in the Okanagan in a multigenerational Punjabi home with strong ties to India. She felt like she didn’t belong in either world. With little support from others, she started to drink alcohol and attempted suicide a year later. That created a constant tug-of-war between traditional healing and Western health systems, and even more pressure to hide her experiences from others. Navjot felt like she had to stay silent, but she now works to break the stigma and find healing in the space between two cultures.

Michael found depression and anxiety harder to manage, and tried to book an appointment with a mental health clinic in town—the closest large town to his small community. The next appointment was a month away, an eternity for someone who needed help right away. Living in a small community has wonderful benefits, but it also means that help is not always easy to access when you need it. After a suicide attempt and short hospitalization, Michael was sent out on his own again with an address for a counselling clinic, and now must navigate a setback from COVID-19.

Working in northern BC comes with challenges. Staffing shortages mean that one person has to fill many roles. Knowing everyone in town can lead to conflict when people need privacy. Racism and lack of culturally appropriate services leave many Indigenous people without the right supports. For Shamalla, a mental health and addictions clinician serving five First Nations communities, different is also a good thing. It means that she can meet people where they are), build stronger relationships, and feel the rhythm of the land.