SERVICES AND ReSOURCES
On Campus Resources:
South Asian Diaspora Community Healing Space
South Asian Diaspora Community Healing Space is a support group for students who have cultural or personal ties to South Asia. The goal of the group is to provide a healing space for students who have cultural or personal ties to South Asia to connect with others and offer peer-to-peer support facilitated by HCS staff. Any students who self-identify as South Asian, have lived in South Asia, have family in South Asia, or have cultural ties or roots to South Asia are welcome.
International Student Services
Office: 778.782.4232
Iss_office@sfu.ca
ISS offers supports and services to international students and to students seeking info regarding international learning opportunities. ISS works with faculty wishing to develop international and intercultural learning opportunities.
The David Lam Centre has served as an active link between SFU and the wider community over the past two decades and has supported activities related to intercultural communication through the teaching of Korean, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese. It has also sponsored frequent academic and public events related to Asian art, literature, history, film and philosophy. Beyond this work the Centre has made its expertise and resources available in support of organizations that share an interest in fostering intercultural understanding.
Anti Asian Racism
Hearing news about anti-Asian racism and violence is upsetting and may affect members of the Asian community more acutely. If you are in need of support, please reach out.
- My SSP: SFU students can access free 24/7 mental health support through the My SSP app. Culturally relevant support options are available; you can request to speak to a counsellor who shares your language and/or racial identity.
- Bullying & Harassment: If you have witnessed or experienced bullying or harassment on our campuses, please visit SFU’s Bullying & Harassment webpage to learn more about the supports and resources available to you and explore your reporting options, if that is something you wish to consider.
- See a Counsellor: free, confidential, time-limited supports are available to all registered SFU students
- Tending to Anti-Asian racism: SFU Health & Counselling has created this facilitated group to be a safe and confidential space to support students from the Asian community who feel alienated and/or targeted by anti-Asian racism.
- Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP): the SFU Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provides confidential, professional assistance to help SFU employees and their family members resolve problems that affect your personal and work lives
- Sexual Violence Support and Prevention Office: A diverse range of supports are available for campus community members including students, staff and faculty who are impacted by sexual violence
- Critical Incident Support: A Critical Incident (or Significant Event) is normally a traumatic event that creates a strong emotional reaction. This reaction may interfere with an individual’s ability to manage normal day-to-day activities or have a large negative impact on the people involved or community members that have in some way been involved. Learn about the supports available.
- The Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion has compiled a list of support and awareness resources on anti-Asian racism, including culturally appropriate mental health supports and organizations that are spreading awareness about anti-Asian racism in Canada
- The Human Resources Student Association of BC has compiled a website with anti-Asian racism resources, including further information on the history of anti-Asian racism in Canada, reporting lines and organizations to support.
Off Campus Resources:
- DIVERSEcity, a non-profit community resource society in Surrey, has a good page of COVID-19 resources, plus has counselling sessions via phone available to Fraser Health residents in multiple languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, and others.
- Moving Forward Family Services in Surrey is offering free emotional support by phone in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu and low-cost counselling by calling or texting 778-321-3054, emailing counsellor@movingforwardfamilyservices.com or filling in this application form.
- The Roshni Clinic offers culturally safe mental health, alcohol and drug use counselling and program support and has virtual appointments available by phone or online.
- The NISA Helpline has a toll-free counselling service and support line for Muslim women. They offer free online webinars and resources in dealing with stress and anxiety during this time. Also, can be reached via phone at 1-888-315-6472 or email info@nisahelpline.com.
- MOSAIC, a non-profit in Surrey, offers culturally safe outreach emergency support for women experiencing sexual or gender-based violence by calling 236-521-7080 or emailing women.support@mosaicbc.org.
- International Student Support is available through the Vedic Hindu Cultural Society. They are running a new immigrant and student helpline at 604-618-5114 and 604-543-9442. One Voice Canada also offers an international student helpline at 1-833-316-6423.
- General virtual mental health supports are available through the BC government, which has listings of a variety of psychological services. The new BC COVID-19 Mental Health Network is also offering free short-term one on one counselling for people struggling with COVID-19 related impacts. Email bccovidtherapists@gmail.com.
- The Fraser Health Crisis Line is also available 24/7 to address COVID-19 related anxiety, depression and other mental health issues at 1-877-820-7444.
- SWAN Vancouver provides culturally-specialised supports and advocacy to immigrant women engaged in indoor sex work
- The Yarrow Intergenerational Society for Justice supports youth and low-income immigrant seniors in Chinatown and the Downtown Eastside through intergenerational relationship buildling and by helping seniors overcome language and cultural barriers to services that meet their basic needs
