Charmaine Williams invited to speak to the House of Commons standing committee on the mental health of young women and girls

On Monday, October 3, Professor Charmaine Williams, Interim Dean at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, was invited to speak to the House of Commons standing committee on the mental health of young women and girls. She used the opportunity to highlight issues relevant to BIPOC and LGBT+ communities.

“The issue of who gets overlooked, marginalized or silenced when systems attempt to meet the needs of populations is key to this discussion,” said Williams. “Strategies for mental health promotion and the prevention of mental illness that are directed at young women and girls as homogenous groups are inadequate for understanding and addressing health disparities.”

Links to the Standing Committee’s meetings can be found on the House of Common’s website. To view Williams’ five-minute presentation, click on the October 3, 2022 meeting link and then select ‘Watch’. Williams’ speach starts at the 11:12:23 mark.

Williams’ research bridges practice and access and equity issues that affect various populations including racial minority women, LGBTQ individuals in local and international contexts, and individuals and families affected by serious and persistent mental illnesses. Her most recent study, The Family Caregiving Project, has developed resources that will help healthcare professionals, educators and community groups better understand the contemporary realities of families, including chosen families, struggling with mental health.

Related:

• Rethinking family caregiving: Q&A with Charmaine Williams, director of the Family Caregiving Project