A virtual forum on mental health in Ethiopian and Eritrean communities underway in Toronto.
The participants and panelists called on more networking among service providers.
With the host serving Ethiopian and Eritrean Coffee Ceremony, the zoom meeting was organized to discuss mental health related issues with in the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities.
The meeting by Ethiocan bridge project was aimed at bringing community stakeholders together to bridge the gap between communities and service providers
Speakers shared their experience on how mental health is impacting their clients
Author of ‘” Daughter of Silence,” Rebecca Fesseha shared an emotional excerpts from her book that amplified the profound effects of sexual abuse happening in silence.
The panelists said the communities are negatively impacted by what is happening in and around them such as anti-black racism and over representation of black communities in the mental health institutions.
Liben Gebremikael, the Executive Director of Taibu Community Health Center, who spearheaded the designation of Black mental health day in Canada, called for more culturally specific services in mental health. “Mental health should be considered as a positive subject to engage rather than considering it as a negative aspect” says Liben .He called on the communities to continue support youth facing mental illness and substance misuse.
Dr. Samra Sahlu, a psychiatrist and one of the panelist, said mental health can be caused by biological, psychological and social factors where no one is immune. She says “mental health can happen to anyone and there is no shame about it.”
Sharing the youth experience in mental health, The Art and Health collective team said young people needed to be understood but not judged.
For the Faith leaders in the panel, stigma and generational gaps are outstanding challenges in mental health with in the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities in Canada. The leaders asserted that people can consider a combination of scientific mental health services and spiritual interventions.
The forum also presented an opportunity for individuals and organizations to promote their services related to mental health.
Making mental wellness a priority and the need to work in partnership were highlighted consensus among all participants.
