By Canadian Press

Desmond inquiry: Nova Scotia has no specific mental health program for Black people

Nov 29, 2021 | 12:39 PM

PORT HAWKESBURY, N.S. — An inquiry investigating why a mentally unstable former soldier killed his family and himself in 2017 heard today that Nova Scotia does not offer its Black population any culturally specific programs for maintaining mental health or preventing intimate partner violence.

The provincial inquiry is focusing today on the role race played in the deaths of Afghanistan war veteran Lionel Desmond; his wife, Shanna; their 10-year-old daughter, Aaliyah; and Desmond’s mother, Brenda — all of whom were Black.

Among other things, the inquiry has been asked to determine if Desmond and his family had access to appropriate mental health services and to domestic violence intervention services.

Four Nova Scotia experts testified today, including Robert Wright, a sociologist who specializes in forensic mental health, trauma and cultural competence.

Wright told the inquiry that in 2012, the Health Association of African Canadians recommended the province develop an African Nova Scotian mental health and addictions strategy, which would include culturally specific training for health-care workers, an online curriculum and the creation of an African Nova Scotian mental health and addictions network of professionals.

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Though some of the training was completed, Wright says the province disbanded the network in 2016 when the project ended, leaving a group of volunteers to keep the initiative alive.

As well, the inquiry heard that the province subsequently received a long list of recommendations in a document known as the African Nova Scotia Health Strategy, but that document has yet to be released to the public.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 29, 2021.

The Canadian Press