Project Description

To address the trends emerging in the data analysis section and the findings from the literature review, this project offers a two part solution.

Part I.

Raising Community Knowledge and Awareness through Educational Sessions

Each session is presented by Eritrean or Ethiopian mental health specialists and/or practitioners who speak Tigrinya and Amharic.

Session One: Understanding Mental Health in Immigrants and the Diaspora

This session provides a fundamental understanding of mental health by defining the most prevalent mental health diagnosis in the community, presenting signs varying by age, gender, and situation, and concluding by discussing appropriate measures. The session is co-created with mental health services in Colorado and community leaders and specialists, and implements scenarios to connect with the audience. 

Session Two: Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention

This session aims to educate the Eritrean and Ethiopian communities about substance abuse and suicide prevention by discussing the types of abuse stemming from mental health issues and their signs, the signs of suicide, and appropriate measures to address substance abuse and/or suicidal ideology in themselves or loved ones. 

Session Three: Community Building

 This session invites three to four community members to discuss their experiences with mental health with the intent of showcasing its prevalence and destroying taboo ideologies the community has about mental health. 

Part II.

Ensuring Sustainability

Part II. aims to ensure our efforts in Part I. are sustainable by fighting for systemic change. We achieve this in two ways.

Train and License Religious & Community Leaders

Since religious and community leaders are often the first and only point of contact for immigrant community members, this project educate leaders to better support their communities by collaborating with hospitals, services, and government agencies to introduce diverse and extensive networks for religious and community leaders to access and provide to their communities.

Increase Eritrean and Ethiopian Access to Resources

Increasing access to resources includes creating emergency funds to combat financial restrictions in the community to access mental health facilities, diminishing the language barrier through advocacy, and more.