New funding announced ‘at the right time’ for mental health services for Muslim community | CBC News

A London, Ont. non-profit is set to receive more than a quarter million dollars to help people deal with the trauma inflicted on the Muslim community through the attack against the Afzaal family two years ago.

Federal Minister of Diversity Kamal Khera was in the city Friday where she announced $202,131 will go to the Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration to fund counselling and therapeutic groups for individuals and families. 

An additional $60,000 was made available for the programs from the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF).

“There’s a lot of emotions, a lot of anger, a lot of trauma, a lot of fear and we need support,” said Hina Islam, a psychotherapist who is related to the Afzaal family through marriage.

She said she often works with youth in the community who were friends with Yumnah Afzaal, who are all now in Grade 12.

“This means a lot. It comes at a very good time. The trial is ongoing right now and we anticipate that’s going to really impact many people in our community,” said Mohammed Baobaid, executive director at the Muslim Resource Centre.

The federal funding will help cover the costs of running the program into next year, while the money from CRRF will be spread out over two fiscal years.

Funding will help expand current resources

Baobaid said he hopes to use part of the funds to help expand resources for staff members who are also dealing processing the events of the last few years.

“It causes them vicarious trauma so we are trying to provide some kind of support for them,” Baobaid said, noting staff currently rely on a peer support group.

Baobaid said the goal is also to expand so mental health services can be offered in local mosques and Islamic schools.

“Also there is space within our Muslim resource centre. So we really try to identify where people are really more comfortable with and create the space within that community. We don’t want to replicate what is happening,” he said.

Leaders with the various organizations agree that the ongoing trial of Nathaniel Veltman in the killing of the Afzaal family continues to inflict trauma on the community and that while the funding is welcome, more needs to be done to help all those affected by it.

“I’m so appreciative of Muslim Resource Centre. I’m so appreciative for the funding we’ve received so that we can move forward in that direction,” Islam said. “It is a first step and I’m really hoping that it continues. This shouldn’t end with the trial.”