RE-AIM Coalition (re-aim.ca)

We, the undersigned, affirm that culturally specific mental health programs are essential, not optional.

The closure of the Asian Initiative in Mental Health (AIM), which supported Chinese Canadian communities for more than 23 years, reflects a troubling global trend: the dismantling of culturally specific programs under the guise of “modernization” or “neutrality.”

These closures are not about efficiency. They represent a retreat from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and risk deepening health disparities. Culturally safe, language-concordant care improves engagement, outcomes, and system effectiveness, making it both economical and indispensable.

Culturally specific programs also serve as vital platforms for training, research, and advocacy. They demonstrate that culture is not simply an obstacle but a source of resilience, healing, and innovation.

Protecting DEI is not about politics. It is about human dignity, fairness, and justice. In mental health, equity and effectiveness are inseparable.

We urge policymakers, institutions, and communities worldwide to defend, strengthen, and expand culturally specific programs as a cornerstone of inclusive, socially just mental health care.