Issued on: May 5, 2017
On May 5, 2017, Hong Fook hosted the Partnership Appreciation at Scarborough Civic Centre. Over 70 community partners, funder representatives and elected officials attended this event and echoed on the theme “Take the Mental Health Journey Together.” Through posting their words on Hong Fook’s “Wall of Partners”, the participants shared “Hong Fook is built on the vision of walking with people!” ”Its vision and mission is needed, timely and vital to improve mental health for all!” And “our multicultural communities need their caring and sensitive services!”
We were honoured to have Susan Pigott, the Chair of Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions Leadership Advisory Council, deliver a keynote speech. Susan presented an overview of Ontario’s Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy, Open Minds, Healthy Minds, and shed light on the equity lens of this strategy. Susan also emphasized Hong Fook’s mission and vision are aligned with the goals of Open Minds, Healthy Minds. She said, “The Council recognizes the importance of Hong Fook’s work with health and social service partners to support people from diverse communities. Hong Fook has been dedicated to providing community based, peer positive and culturally competent services to people with mental illness and unattached clients, and to assisting people with linguistic and cultural barriers gain access to mental health services and primary care.”