Comments on: Mental Health Taboo in the Ethiopian Community: Interview with Dr. Welansa Asrat

By: Abey Girma, Suspect in Murder of Ethiopian Dallas Restaurant Owners, Moved From Colorado to Texas at Tadias Magazine

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 07:44:32 +0000

[...] Read more at The Dallas Morning News — Related: Mental Health Taboo in the Ethiopian Community: Interview with Dr. Welansa Asrat (TADIAS) [...]

By: Addis

Addis — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 04:00:55 +0000

Very informational discussion. shame and stigma that is attached to mental illness in our community is also attached to AIDS patient, fistula paints, etc. I am happy to see such distingushed Ethiopian expert who undeerstands our community educating us on the subject. I especcially found the Canada study eye opening. I think we need to ininiatite similar research in the U.S where there is high concentration of Ethiopians like D.C. Minnesota, etc.

By: Hirut Mekonnen

Hirut Mekonnen — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 02:27:54 +0000

There are some very angry people in our community who need some serious anger management like the guy in Dallas. too late for him.

By: Petrina Yemane

Petrina Yemane — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 02:14:46 +0000

Great interview with Dr. Welansa Asrat. Many countries and Caribbean island take the view of Mental Health issues as possession of evil spirits and shun the idea for reaching out to Mental Health Care professionals and clinics. It will take awareness like this article and education within the community to change the stigma to what I like to call “Talk Therapy” which is non-threatening. Practicing in NY and VA, it has become clear there are really two channels or branches for one’s mental health status; being emotional and/or mental. Dr. Asrat outlined the risk factors for mental illness. “Emotional illness” is much more covert, leading to domestic violence, mistreatment of children and suicide.

The Ethiopian community is excellent at providing support to family members with marriages, child care and individual support based from cultural attributes, as reported in the article. The jewel to this interview is the concept of knowing when helping a particular individual, the family and community support is not enough. Part of family support is also taking action in encouraging the person or couple to seek professional help while having loved ones standing behind them. Please continue posting interviews like this one for increasing education and offering safe and valuable information from clinicians who are culturally sensitive.

Petrina Yemane, MA, PC/MHC

By: Dr. Yeshi T.

Dr. Yeshi T. — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:59:33 +0000

We need more doctors like Dr Welnsa who are trained in cross-cultral Psychiatry because even though we have one of the largest pools of medical professionals, they are not geared toward dealing with mental health problems. Thank Dr. for what you do! All the best!

By: Mel Tewahade

Mel Tewahade — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:09:19 +0000

The trauma that we as Ethiopians have endured the last 40 years, makes a lot of us border line insane. Severe mood swing,cold shoulder,tendency to get hurt easily,unable to articulate our difficulty,many families that do not talk to each other over perceived infraction,alcoholism,aggressive behavior towards one another,intense jealousy,hatred, loathing, inability to be happy where we are, if we are in Ethiopia, we want to go the US and if we are in the US we want to go back, luck of joy in our heart are some the visible conditions.

Hopefully the new generation will unload some of this baggage and live a better life.

By: Mule

Mule — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 00:16:11 +0000

Thanks for shading light on this topic. As Dr. Asrat mentioned in a culture where mental illness carries a huge stigma and psychiatric help can be a frightening thing. Breaking the silnce is the first step to avoide the heart breaking tragidies.