The Baba Nanak Trust Foundation: Community Support From The Bottom Up
When I first decided to pursue my Master’s of Social Work degree, I felt connected to completing it in the Community and Development route, relating to communities that wanted to make changes from a social perspective, but didn’t have the tools to do so. Therefore, in the interest of working with communities from a social work lens, Community Development became an important of my learning and growth.
Since I started my Social Work career, I have had the immense privilege to travel to overseas countries and experience working with communities related to poverty, addiction and projects where the “Bottom Up” approach is used. This approach is where members are the ones making the decisions and problem solving from the “Bottom Up”. It’s about coming together to identify the issues, and then reaching out to the “higher ups” for funding and awareness support. Now, having the experience and knowledge in both clinical and community based settings, I feel I can help make a difference in localities that are using the same “Bottom Up” approach I’ve seen used in developing countries.
What is the Baba Nanak Trust (BNT) Foundation?
This is where BNT comes in to play. The Baba Nanak Trust Foundation, BNT (pronounced as Bay-N-Tee): a non-profit organization established in 2019 to meet the needs of socially and psychologically vulnerable South Asians in the Edmonton area. It is a charitable organization that not only supports vulnerable south Asians, but creates more awareness and addresses culturally sensitive and mental health related issues.
The fundamental root causes seen in South Asians can also have a significant health and social problems within South Asian families. Research and community based programs have shown that mental illness is not understood yet, as one every five are experiencing some sort of a mental health issue. If this is something that continues on with no supports, changes or awareness, then those negative thoughts, feelings and perceptions will continue to grow and impact daily living, relationships and individual growth.
Communities are full of values and cultural norms that can limit a person to see different perspectives, acknowledge and challenge the cultural norms, and continue to feel isolated and stigmatized. BNT’s mission is to help the South Asian community understand the causes, talk through some of the cultural norms, and help find solutions for mental health, social isolation and family challenges. This is done through the community members speaking up, learning new information, showing research that resonates with community members, and building a platform to allow South Asians have a voice without fear and stigma.
Recently, BNT received approval to help our South Asian community members with individual or family counselling for those who do not have an health coverage for counselling and therapy sessions. This recent funding is one way that BNT has been able to excel using the Bottom Up approach. In addition, they are also taking the ongoing conversations community members have and holding community events to now help those in need.
How many sessions can I get through the Baba Nanak Trust Foundation?
Five sessions per individual is approved through the foundation to provide support and resources to keep mental health a priority. With a high influx of new immigrants moving to Canada, transitioning into a new country is already difficult. And starting all over again and bringing along past mental health issues, it can be a hard road to be on.
This selfless service for the socially and psychologically vulnerable individuals in the South Asian community not only supports community members, but doing is being done from a community level. For this reason, it is important to not only have a shout out to BNT for their efforts and kindred mission, but to also recognize that coming together as one unit can make a difference.
What are the qualifications?
There are very little qualifications needed. The goal is to make this program as accessible as possible. You must be of South Asian decent, and have no other means to afford counselling through work benefits (or have used them up).
How do I apply to get sessions from Baba Nanak Trust?
If you are of South Asian decent and do not have access to cover the costs of counselling sessions, please send a message and we will apply on your behalf and receive funding directly. There is no paperwork needed on your end. All you have to do is ask and we’ll take care of the rest.
Will my application be public knowledge?
Your personal information will be kept confidential so BNT will not have access to the names of individuals using the program. All they see is an invoice from us on how many sessions were used under their program.
— Written by Aman Dhaliwal, Registered Social Worker & Owner, BA, MSW, RSW.
Breathe Counselling is an Edmonton-based mental health clinic that is part of the BNT network. Designed to listen, help, and coach those needing counselling and therapy, we specialize in cultural therapy for newcomers, couple’s counselling, anxiety & depression, work stress management, and men’s therapy. Counselling services are available through in-person, virtual or phone call sessions by visiting breathcounselling.ca.