Social Work Month – March

Author : Serena Datta

Every March, we celebrate Social Work Month—a time to honor those who stand on the frontlines of care, advocacy, and change. This year’s theme is “Wherever You Are, So Are We”. From mental health support to food security, from advocacy to crisis intervention, social workers meet people where they are, ensuring that help is not just available, but accessible!

Haleema Jilani and Jason Sinclair are part of a vast network of professionals who are lifelines, mentors, and change-makers.

Haleema Jilani: A Guiding Light for Newcomers

When Haleema Jilani arrived in Canada as an immigrant, she found herself lost in a sea of unfamiliarity—new systems, new cultures, and an overwhelming sense of isolation. It was social workers who helped her find her footing, offering both practical guidance and emotional support. Years later, she stands on the other side of that journey, dedicating her career to helping others navigate the same path she once walked.

As a placement student at the TNO Food Collaborative, Jilani has witnessed the harsh realities of resettlement. From personal experience, Jilani understands the emotional weight of immigration—the grief of leaving home and the fear of starting over.

“A lot of people don’t seek help because they don’t know where to go, or they feel ashamed,” Jilani explains. “Our job isn’t just to connect them to resources—it’s to make sure those resources actually work for them.” Many newcomers face language barriers, food insecurity, and a labyrinth of bureaucratic red tape that makes accessing basic services very difficult.

For Jilani, “Wherever You Are, So Are We” means ensuring that social work is as dynamic and diverse as the people it serves. Her advocacy extends beyond immediate needs; she pushes for trauma-informed care, multilingual services, and policies that recognize the full humanity of those seeking a better life.

Jason Sinclair: Mental Health & Youth Empowerment

Jason Sinclair, a mental health counselor and psychotherapist at the Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub, began his career in resettlement services, working with newcomers to Canada. While completing his bachelor’s degree at Toronto Metropolitan University, he observed a pressing need for mental health support among youth—many of whom struggled in silence due to stigma and lack of resources. Walking through downtown Toronto, he watched the city’s youth fall through the cracks. Young people in the grips of psychosis, alone on the streets, caught in cycles of poverty and mental illness—battling a system that has failed them.

He made the shift into counseling, recognizing that many young people struggle in silence—whether due to stigma, fear, or a simple lack of resources. Working at the Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub, he witnessed firsthand the struggles of young people, particularly those from newcomer communities, as they navigate mental health challenges in an unfamiliar culture.

“Mental health is still stigmatized, especially in communities where it’s not openly discussed,” Sinclair notes. His approach is both direct and compassionate: meeting youth where they are, in both a literal and cultural sense. “We need to provide mental health education in a way that makes sense to them—breaking down concepts like anxiety or psychosis in a digestible way, while being mindful of cultural beliefs.”

Sinclair’s work is hands-on. His week might include setting up mental health tables at the East York Town Centre, leading community discussions, organizing wellness walks, offering mental health drop-in sessions and so much more.

When asked about the changes he would like to see, Sinclair points to the need for more psychoeducation and youth-centered interventions. Having worked with people from ages 10 to 91, Sinclair understands that mental health challenges take different forms at different stages of life. For youth, the pressures are uniquely complex. “Young people are deeply influenced by social media, and they need safe, comfortable spaces to talk about mental health without fear or shame,” he says.

His work reflects the ethos that a strong community is built on strong individuals, and by providing holistic care that addresses housing, finances, and mental well-being, he helps youth navigate their challenges with resilience. Activities like pottery, museum visits, and music classes are just as crucial as therapy sessions and it ensures that the client is being supported in ways that are meaningful to them.

“We are only as good as the community we are working in, and only as good as the support you are providing” he says.

Reflecting on the Impact of Social Work

Social work is about believing in people when they’ve stopped believing in themselves. It’s about seeing humanity in every struggle and standing in the gaps where systems fail.

Haleema Jilani and Jason Sinclair’s work reminds us that every individual deserves to be seen and valued, wherever they are.