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May 4, 2025
News
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With the world increasingly under pressure, more and more people are feeling the pressure.
Mental health has quickly grown into a global crisis and Calgarians are not immune.
“Mental health is becoming a big issue within different populations in Calgary,” says Azita Afsharnejat.
Afsharnejat is the Manager of Mental Health & Settlement at TIES (The Immigrant Education Society).
She oversees one of the largest newcomer mental health departments in the city, including the program Healthy Minds, all of which have expanded exponentially through the years.
In 2024 alone, the programs have helped 3,500 people (newcomers and other Calgarians) access mental health counselling, crisis counselling, and many other services.
Calgarians’ mental health has been in the spotlight for several years as the population has grown and diversified.
A 2024 City of Calgary report looking especially into the mental health of Calgarians found more than a third of respondents (33%) rated their mental health as fair or poor.
More than half (58%) of those surveyed felt they needed mental health care in the past.
And 70 per cent of those felt they needed care in the past year.
The percentages are very different, however, when it comes to the mental health of newcomers.
The study found newcomers are both much less likely to self-report their mental health to be poor or fair (19%) and that they need mental health care (34%).
Many on the front lines of immigrant serving agencies say that’s likely due to the cultural stigma surrounding mental health issues.
“I believe for the immigrant families when they come to a new country and new city they have different challenges,” Azita Afsharnejat says.
Afsharnejat says newcomers’ challenges largely focus on language and cultural barriers, which can be very hard on family relationships.
“Youth are just trying to adapt to the new society and fit in with their new peers, but the family is dealing with the settlement and basic needs and so there is lots of conflict between the parents and youth.
“They try to integrate faster but because of those issues, they are not able to do that sometimes. It’s very hard for them.”
Just as hard, oftentimes, is knowing where to go to find help addressing these challenges.
TIES aims to help bridge the barriers to accessibility, language and culture.
Clients don’t have to go to a doctor to get a referral to counselling or other services. TIES offers wellness rooms, activity-based psychoeducation, support groups and workshops.
Clinical and therapeutic counselling is offered in 13 different languages, often through interpreters and ultimately breaking the language barrier.
“They feel like they need to talk to somebody who understand them better,” she says. “They feel so connected to the program and the counsellors.”
Afsharnejat says it’s important to note these services are available to all Calgarians, regardless of nationality.
“We don't even ask for their immigration category or anything,” she adds. “Any citizen, any anybody in the city that needs this help can get this support.”
The majority of the funding for the Healthy Minds is made possible through the City of Calgary.
Bridging Cultures, Healing Wounds: TIES Counsellor Offers Sensitive, Trauma-informed Care
City of Calgary report: 2024-Mental-Health-Calgarians-Final-Report (1).pdf
Media RSVP, Interviews & Inquiries:
Tomasia DaSilva
Media and Relationship Strategist
Email: tomasiadasilva@immigrant-education.ca
Phone: 403-291-0002
Get involved with TIES on our social media platforms.
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