Chapter 7 - Follow up: Use what you have learned to challenge inequity

Whether you and your partners reached your goals or not, the experience of working together will have likely raised your awareness of the challenges facing ethnocultural communities in achieving good health. Wide gaps in care and health promotion, particularly for and about mental health and substance use, remain between these communities and the mainstream.

Now that your part in the initiative is mostly finished and other projects may be taking your attention, take time to reflect on what you have learned about working with ethnocultural communities and inequity in healthcare and health promotion. Some things to think about:

• What changes are needed in your organization to improve access for ethnocultural communities and diverse populations?
• What can you do to continue to increase your and your colleagues’ understanding of cultural differences in mental health and substance use?
• How can you share what you have learned with health promoters and people working in other sectors?

Statistics Canada projects the trend towards greater cultural diversity in Canada to continue well into the future. It is essential that present inequities in all areas of society be challenged and removed to ensure that all Canadians have an equal opportunity to achieve good health.

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