A young inner-west leader is tackling the complex topic of mental health in African- Australian communities.
Victoria University student Tabotu Teklemariam (pictured) co-founded the non-profit organisation Afro-Care to combat the delicate and often taboo subject of mental health in Melbourne’s African communities.
Ms Teklemariam said the idea for Afro- Care was hatched during a 10-week African leadership program for young emerging leaders who discussed problems each community faced.
“We focused on mental health. Problems exist in our communities, but it’s so taboo,” she said. “There’s also a negative stigma attached; you can’t come out to your community. Either you are doing well or you are not mentally stable. There is no in-between.”
The Flemington high-rise resident said anyone with mental health issues in African communities could become very isolated.
The first year of Afro-Care has been an exercise in learning about how to tackle the delicate issue, with solutions being generated from within the communities.
“This is about creating dialogues, having open discussions,” she said. “It’s not right to …make conclusions. We need our community to help us implement possible solutions.”
Afro-Care will present an ‘African mental health and well-being’ forum from 6pm-7.30pm on Wednesday at VU at MetroWest, 138 Nicholson Street, Footscray.
For help or more information, call Lifeline 131 114 or beyondblue, 1300 224 636.
