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Mental health
Vicarious Trauma for frontline workers
Resolution number
1
Whereas
- There is prolonged stress on the job in serving refugees and immigrants;
- There is a high risk for front line workers to face vicarious trauma when working with clients;
Therefore be it resolved
that the CCR ask federal and provincial funders of settlement services to increase funding for professional development and designate specific funds for training and support for staff in vicarious trauma, self-care, and trauma informed care.
Working Group
Subject
Acceptance of women at risk referrals
Resolution number
17
Whereas
- The UNHCR and other NGOs who identify and refer Women at Risk cases to Canadian visa posts abroad have gathered adequate information on the referred cases;
- Numerous sources confirm that interviewing a woman for the details of her story of persecution can be an act of traumatization, and that further interviews are unnecessary and re-traumatizing;
- The November 1993 CCR Gender Consultations noted the importance of visa officers accepting referrals of Women at Risk cases using their discretion not to interview for the details of their persecution;
- In the restructuring of the Canadian visa posts visa officers have been advised to use their discretionary authority to decrease the number of interviews;
Therefore be it resolved
That the CCR request the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to direct visa officers to accept and process expeditiously the referrals of Women at Risk cases from the UNHCR and NGOs without an interview for the details of the persecution experience.
Working Group
Subject
Immigrant and refugee mental health
Resolution number
8
Whereas
- The settlement and adaptation process has been recognised in the Report "After the Door has been Opened" to have significant mental health aspects;
- The federal Ministries of Human Resources, Citizenship and Immigration, Canadian Heritage, and Health are concerned with the successful settlement of Immigrants and refugees;
Therefore be it resolved
That the CCR request that:
- The above mentioned Federal ministries continue to implement the recommendations of the report "After the Door Has Been Opened";
- These Ministries pay particular attention to and review the mental health effects of their policies;
- These Ministries urge the Provincial Ministries of Health to recognise cross cultural mental health counselling by including costs for these services under the Provincial Health Plans.
Working Group
Subject
Mental Health and Detention - part 3
Resolution number
5
Whereas
individuals with mental health issues, who have had no involvement with the criminal justice system, are detained in provincial criminal institutions,
Therefore be it resolved
that the CCR advocate that CBSA cease this practice, provide individuals with accommodations that respect their dignity, and provide access to appropriate services.
Working Group
Subject
Mental Health and Detention - part 2
Resolution number
5
Whereas
conditions imposed on individuals to be released from detention by the Immigration Division and conditions imposed for a stay of a deportation order by the Immigration Appeal Division do not always take into consideration difficulties of compliance for people with serious mental health issues.
Therefore be it resolved
that CCR advocate that the IRB develop a policy for decision makers that requires that all conditions of release and stay take into account the ability of the person to comply with the conditions in light of their mental health status.
Working Group
Subject
Mental Health and Detention - part 1
Resolution number
5
Whereas
there are numerous gaps in services for immigrants and refugees with mental health issues and serious problems with the legal framework
Therefore be it resolved
that the CCR advocate in favour of:
- The right to State-funded counsel for persons with mental health issues.
- Access to mental health services for persons in detention, including assessment, counselling, and treatment.
- Training on mental health issues for all CBSA officers, IRB members, designated representatives and other stakeholders.
- Guidelines to provide for flexibility to enable PIF or BOC amendments without consequences for refugee claimants and
- Relaxed timelines for all vulnerable persons.
- Repeal IRPA sections 64 (2) (no appeal for a person with a sentence of 2 years or more) and 68 (a) (automatic termination of stays of removal in the event of subsequent conviction.
Working Group
Subject
Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)
Resolution number
1
Whereas
- Anyone who resides in Canada should be entitled to an acceptable level of healthcare;
- The Canada Health Act enshrines the principle of universality;
- Preventative healthcare is both more humane and more economical than curative healthcare; and
- The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognizes that everyone has the right to “the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health” and that States have a duty of non-discrimination in the realization of that right.
Therefore be it resolved
That the CCR oppose the reductions to the IFHP announced in April 2012 and advocate:
- For the cancellation of the announced reductions,
- Against any other reductions in IFHP coverage, and
- Against any differentiation in coverage based on category of refugee or claimant, or stage of processing (e.g. claimant, accepted refugee, refused refugee, government-assisted refugees, privately-sponsored refugees).
Working Group
Subject
Treatment of survivors of torture by the IRB
Resolution number
11
Whereas
- Evidence indicates that some survivors of torture are being re-traumatized by the experience of the refugee hearing process;
- The determination of refugee status for survivors of torture presents evidentiary complexities for the IRB;
- The CCR has endorsed a detailed written proposal for guidelines for the determination of torture survivors before the IRB;
Therefore be it resolved
That the CCR request that the IRB make it apriority to establish a joint committee with the CCR to develop guidelines for refugee claim determination involving survivors of torture. The joint committee will work in consultation with other organizations with expertise in dealing with survivors of torture.
Working Group
Subject
Minister's representatives
Resolution number
9
Whereas
- There have been reports of Minister's Representatives' interventions in refugee hearings leading to retraumatization of refugee claimants, especially survivors of torture;
- There is no Code of Conduct to be observed by the Minister's representative at refugee hearings;
- There is no adequate accountability mechanism in this respect;
Therefore be it resolved
That the CCR write to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the Chairperson of the IRB raising its concerns and asking them to collaborate in establishing a fair and accountable mechanism, with feedback from the CCR, for conduct of the Minister's representatives at refugee hearings and their mode of interventions.
Working Group
Subject