COUNCIL AWARD
An advocate
for culturally
sensitive
mental health
Dr. Kenneth Fung honoured for work
D
r. Kenneth Fung, of Toronto, has re-
ceived the College’s Council Award for
his work in developing culturally sensi-
tive mental health programs.
Dr. Fung is an internationally acclaimed psychia-
trist with particular expertise in cultural psychiatry.
He has worked tirelessly to advance accessible and
culturally inclusive mental health services for ethno-
racial and marginalized communities in Canada. In
so doing, he has helped break down barriers to care and
reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness in
our communities.
Dr. Fung is the founding and clinical director of the
Asian Initiative in Mental Health (AIM) at Toronto
Western Hospital. AIM serves Toronto’s large Asian com-
munity, offering psychiatric services in English, Manda-
rin and Cantonese. The program is also a training ground
for medical students and residents in cultural psychiatry.
AIM serves more than 200 patients every month in a
comprehensive, integrated model of care.
The impetus behind AIM’s establishment in 2002 was
Dr. Fung’s recognition of the difficulties Asian immi-
grants and refugees faced in accessing mental health ser-
vices due to language and cultural barriers, as well as the
pervasive stigma associated with mental health issues in
the community. He strongly believes that understanding
the unique historical, cultural and socioeconomic context
that shape a patient’s overall well-being and their ap-
proach to mental health are critical components of care.
Over the years, Dr. Fung has expanded his efforts
with other Asian, Aboriginal, African-Canadian, Latino
and Portuguese communities to improve mental health
and health equity.
He is also a dedicated researcher, having led numerous
studies in cultural psychiatry to advance the field, and
conducting ground breaking research and collaborations
on other issues of stigma, such as HIV.
Dr. Fung is an associate professor at the University of
Toronto where he is active as a co-leader, trainer and
teacher of cultural psychiatry in residency training. In
addition to leading core educational experiences for ju-
nior residents, he is a fierce advocate for more curricula
time to teach culture and psychiatry, and is leading a
national initiative to further such training for residents
across the country.
His passion and expertise have been recognized in
both national and international psychiatric circles. He is
currently the President-elect of the Society of the Study
of Psychiatry and Culture, the Education Committee
Chair and member of the Operations Committee at the
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