The ECMHTE Project is a joint effort of Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) and the African Communities Public Health Coalition (ACPHC) to reduce the stigma of mental illness in the Ethiopian community, and to set a precedent of using culturally appropriate mental health education when working with ethnic communities.
This 9-month project took place from October 2013 – May 2014. The ACPHC provided culturally competant training to trusted and selected volunteer community members, in order for them to become ‘lay-experts’ on mental health issues, crisis intervention, and appropriate mental health resources.
Goals of the ECMHTE Project:
- Increase the Ethiopian community’s knowledge about mental health, mental illness and the mental health services available to them.
- Reduce the social stigma of mental illness.
- Increase access to appropriate mental health services for people of Ethiopian descent, especially during a mental health crisis.
Over the course of the 9 month project, advocates facilitated 3 community mental health awarenes presentations to their larger respective communities. In total the workshops hosted approximately 150+ community members.
