This submission has been prepared to inform Your Voice: Feedback on the draft strategy of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities. It summarises Asian Family Services’ view on the current gaps and unmet needs of the ethnic populations based on over 20 years of experience of serving the Asian population in mental health and addiction to achieve the best outcomes for wellbeing. It suggests several ideas and approaches that supports the development of the future direction and content of the Ministry of Ethnic Communities (the Ministry’s) Strategy for the Ethnic population.

The submission will also focus on systemic barriers faced by the Asian population in mental health provision and support issues.

Asian Family Services acknowledge that some of the issues highlighted might not be within the strategy’s scope. However, as the Asian Mental Health and Addiction service provider, our responsibility is to authentically represent the Asian population who suffered from mental health and addiction issues in silence, which unfortunately is not well understood by the general population. Many were unable to share their pain and frustration that was buried deep inside, leaving them to feel invisible at the time when their cultural needs were not being met, respected or understood by mental health and addiction services.

Below is the full submission: