Episode 6: Interview with Ms. Senait Admassu & Mr. Alpha Timbo of African Communities Public Health Coalition (ACPHC) on addressing mental health within African immigrant community

Ms. Senait Admassu, MSW, is the founder and the president of the African Communities Public Health Coalition (ACPHC). Mr. Alpha Timbo, MSW/LCSW, is the clinical director. These two pioneers have dedicated their careers to changing lives within the African Immigrants community in Los Angeles, California, through mental health advocacy and providing culturally responsive services to address mental health and mental wellness to members of the African immigrant community in Los Angeles, California.  According to Ms. Admassu, the organization was created to address the growing concerns that resulted from an increase in suicide incidents in most immigrant communities in LA, specifically in the Ethiopian community. Even though ACPHC also provides other services such as immigration services, outreach & education, case management, leadership development, etc. This dialogue focuses on mental health services offered by the organization. We dived into mental illness stigma within the African immigrant community during our discussion, and we further focus on the cultural and religious values that continue to perpetuate stigma towards people suffering from mental illness. We talked about how most African immigrants continue to carry on the same cultural beliefs and religious values. The beliefs tend to be the barrier that continues to prevent us from seeking help for ourselves and our love once when it comes to mental illness. For a child who may show symptoms of mental illness at an early stage, we may not consider it as an illness but rather label it as the child is out of control. Ms. Senait and Mr. Timbo talked about how ACPHC is helping in easing the stigma towards mental health through culturally sensitive counseling and education the program provides. They also work with the religious leaders within the community through education and awareness. The program also assists in securing medical coverage for those who may not have insurance and need psychiatric services and medication management through community networks with other agencies. African Communities Public Health Coalition (ACPHC) gives people a voice to speak up, and the organization is normalizing open conversations on mental illness and mental health within our community. As we publicly discuss complex issues within our community, we are shredding away the stigma associated with these uncomfortable dialogues. Ms. Senait Admassu and Mr. Alpha Timbo provided a wealth of knowledge to the audience regarding this vital subject on mental health wellness and mental illness within the African Immigrants Community. To learn more about (ACPHC), please visit the website @  https://africancoalition.org/, [email protected] and the phone contact (213) 909 0985