Carla Talmaciu

Mental Health through a Multicultural Lens

A presentation by a former B.E.S.T. Fund recipient in her Multicultural Psychology class was the spark that prompted Carla Talmaciu to explore her own ideas for an experiential learning project. After hearing about past recipient Myriam Roy’s experience in Togo, the idea of working in another country and culture appealed to Carla from the start. “I am from a family of immigrants, and with the diverse population we have here in Canada, multicultural psychology is really important. It’s so critical to be aware of other cultures’ perceptions of mental health.”

Carla’s project will first see her take part in a month-long clinical psychology internship in an inpatient setting. “Seeking treatment in a formal setting is very rare in Togo, where mental illness is unfortunately still stigmatized,” says Carla. “I’m looking forward to taking part in conferences and workshops to help raise awareness around mental health and combat that stigma.”

Carla is interested to learn how Togo’s mental healthcare approach differs from that of Canada and how care is delivered in a completely different culture. “Due to limited resources in Togo, as well as patients’ own time limitations, the country has tended to follow a more European model of treatment with medication rather than counselling. I’m curious to see how that is working, and also to observe the relationship between psychologists and psychiatrists.”

Developing a multicultural approach to care is something Carla is passionate about, and she sees its importance on the rise here in Canada. “This is critical when working with an immigrant clientele,” she says. “The immigration process in and of itself is stressful, and the added challenges of language barriers, securing a job, and feelings of isolation and loneliness can give rise to mental health issues. It can be difficult enough to seek help even without barriers like these, so I want to contribute to increasing access to care.”

“This project is the only thing I’ve been talking about for months now,” says Carla. “I’m so grateful for this opportunity and I’d encourage any student to build a proposal for a project they are passionate about. The B.E.S.T. program lets you design a learning experience that fits your area of interest and complements your studies.”