East African Youth Talk Mental Health to Break Stigma

helping youth overcome depression

A stigma exists in the East African community in regards to mental health and United Women of East Africa Support Team (UWEAST) are applying creative programs to reduce the stigma amongst the youth.

Through art, dance, open mics, resource fairs, and community dialogues UWEAST utilizes the East African Community and Cultural Center on Fairmount Avenue to initiate conversations about mental health.

Awichu Akwanya of UWEAST says many factors can stress one’s mental health such as unemployment, continuing education, and finances.

The center works to help connect community members with resources available, “to try to remove the stigma of mental health within the youth,” said Akwanya.

UWEAST will next host a pop-up art gallery on June 30 exhibiting art work created by East African youth.

Produced by Ernesto Munoz & Brian Myers, Media Arts Center San Diego.