Now more than ever, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused and continues to cause increased stress and duress for people who already live with a mental illness. The prolonged shift in our daily lives will continue to impact those most vulnerable in our communities as well as create novel mental health crises across the country.

This is why we would like to raise the funds to fast track the work we want to do in our communities. In this overview, we are including the steps we will be taking to ensure proper health protocols if and when in-person sessions can become possible, as well as online-based solutions. While a particular focus is placed on the issues concerning diaspora immigrant communities from the Horn, the workshops and courses provided by HAMHA will be open to any interested party.

Given the particular impact of COVID-19 on Black and Latino communities in the United States, it is urgent that we are able to provide an essential mental health service such as Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) to communities coping during these unprecedented times. In addition to adapting to these changing conditions, we understand the imperative to provide mental health awareness and education to enhance daily life.

Like other formerly unknown and under researched illnesses of the past that have caused social anxiety, exclusion and stigma among those who live with the illness, mental illness is misunderstood to the detriment of our community’s social health and progress. Superstition (such as belief in the ‘evil eye,’ spiritual possession, or that a mental illness stems from black magic) and maintaining one’s reputation are two strong factors that deter families from seeking treatment or even gaining an understanding of what their loved one is going through.