ARRIVAL LOUNGE

MENTAL HEALTH SOLUTIONS THAT FACTOR IN CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

Dr. Shivajan Sivapalan.

By EMMERSON JULL

As a tutor and music teacher for underprivileged youth in Scarborough, in the final year of his undergraduate studies in Toronto, Dr. Shivajan Sivapalan was shocked to learn that many families were often misguided or ill-informed about mental health.

“The family of a child on the autism spectrum who was of Indian background wasn’t clear about what autism was or meant.,” he says. “The mother had never heard the word before. And the worst part was that she felt it was her fault that her child was on the spectrum.” 

This sparked a determination in him to pursue his MD and work towards helping the South Asian community to receive better supports for mental healthcare and autism.

A first-generation Canadian, born to Sri Lankan parents who immigrated to Canada from Nigeria when he was four, Dr. Sivapalan’s high school years were marked by others’ preconceived ideas of South Asian culture. He saw his social adversity as motivation to succeed, and in his final year of undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto, decided to pursue medicine at St. George’s University in Grenada.

He found the experience of life away from his family’s shepherding revitalizing. He notes how children growing up in a “typical South Asian household” usually experience sheltered growth.

The period was a catalyst for profound personal development and a source of new-found respect for his parents’ journey in Canada.

Much of Dr. Sivapalan’s current work pertains to mental healthcare and autism support for South Asians and newcomer families to Canada as well as with international post-secondary students, particularly in Toronto.

But what makes their needs unique?

He recalls a time earlier in his career when as a family doctor, he would receive questions about mental health from his patients and their families.

Lack of access to culturally appropriate care is “one of the greatest challenges that South Asian families face in the Canadian mental healthcare system,” he says, noting this is a common characteristic of collectivistic cultures. “It’s easier for families to speak to those from the community that they trust, whether it be elders, immediate family, or even religious members, than it is to speak to a healthcare professional.”

This is why connecting newcomers to proper resources and support and combating mental health-related taboos are necessary first steps in providing culturally-responsive, quality healthcare.

His journey at the South Asian Autism Awareness Centre began as a volunteer in 2009. Dr. Sivapalan then served as Vice President on the board and has been the Director of Clinical Operations since 2018. Dr. Sivapalan says that his work at SAAAC is about identifying discrepancies in current autism support systems in Ontario and finding solutions to fill these gaps.

“I try to provide solutions that take into account cultural differences, which is significantly important in today’s landscape in healthcare,” he says. One of Dr. Sivapalan’s innovative solutions is the CARES Program, a peer-counselling initiative that addresses the chronic stress, burnout and mental health of caregivers in a culturally sensitive manner.

Trust between families and care providers is pivotal to improving mental health outcomes of South Asian communities, he says. “Deepening these family and care provider partnerships will gradually remove the cultural barriers and encourage open communication.”

When he initially struggled to find research collaborators focused on the international student population, Canada India Research Centre for Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at the University of Guelph was paramount in recruiting community partners and securing funding. Dr. Sivapalan is inspired by the opportunities that an interdisciplinary hub like CIRCLE  provides for South Asia and India-related research, serving as a gathering place for faculty, students and community partners interested in research related to India and Indian diaspora.

“Connections I made through CIRCLE provided me the opportunity to disseminate my research, not just here in Canada, but also internationally,” he says.

Dr. Sivapalan sees enormous potential for students to learn and contribute, and welcomes students to volunteer, intern or research with SAAAC.               

• This article is an edited version of the original published at the CIRCLE website, canadaindiaresearch.ca.

• Emmerson Jull is a student writer for CIRCLE.

• Interested in participating in the growing global community of CIRCLE? Write to indiaresearch-L@uoguelph.ca.

• If you’d like to share the story of your arrival in Canada, please write to desinews@rogers.com or call 416-695-4357.