Akoma Wellbeing Project
The Akoma Wellbeing Project focuses on providing mental health counselling sessions to youth, adults, and couples. Each gift can provide three to twelve sessions for individuals on our current waitlist. Each gift of $450 to $1500 covers the cost towards psychotherapy sessions by a counsellor or psychotherapist.
About us
Ifarada Centre for Excellence is a social service organization, premised on providing holistic supports to children, youth, adults, and families. With a focus on culturally informed, anti-oppressive practice, and holistic care, Ifarada is a leader in supporting Black, Indigenous, and racialized people, with intentional strategies that promote equity, representation, culture, and identity into its practices. Ifarada is designed to support holistic care, mental wellness, education, and community enrichment.
Why this Project?
Prior to 2020, it was estimated that one in five adults experienced mental health difficulties. However, since that time, many researchers have found that mental health needs and experiences have increased throughout the population. Mental health difficulties have included the presence of serious psychological and mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, and addictions. Families have encountered changes in dynamics such as separation and divorce which may have corresponded with the pandemic. Black and racialized children and adults have expressed challenges associated with anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, racism and more which have contributed to symptoms of posttraumatic stress, racial stress and trauma, and psychological difficulties. Finally, grief and loss has permeated families in multiple ways from the loss of unexpected life to difficulties to grieve together, to changes in relationships, and other unresolved grief.
Our Need
Ifarada has had the privilege of providing mental health counselling to our community through funded programs and volunteers. However, since September 2022, our need/demand for counselling has exceeded our capacity to meet the needs. We experienced a gap of services for adults [ages 18 and up], couples, and elders [ages 60 and up] looking for services and unable to access them.