Health & Mental Health
South Fraser RRT core members have identified numerous challenges for refugees and displaced Ukrainians in accessing health care and mental health services throughout the region.
This includes language barriers and interpretation, trauma and culturally informed services, waitlists, barriers accessing the Medical Services Plan (MSP) and challenges navigating the health system. As well, the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) for refugees, protected persons and refugee claimants is not universally accepted.
These unmet health care and mental health needs for refugees and displaced Ukrainians require responsive and culturally and trauma-informed approaches.
These needs are exasperated because of difficulties in accessing resources in countries of origin with current situations in Afghanistan and the war in Ukraine.
The South Fraser RRT will organize a Health & Mental Health Working Group in the South Fraser Region exploring community-specific resources and information per city.
We will also create resource documents for stakeholders, resettled refugees and displaced Ukrainians on health care services in the South Fraser Region.
As well, we will host pop-up community health and wellness fairs to connect newcomers with health services in the South Fraser Region.