A day long Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training was conducted in Charlotte, North Carolina on January 7, 2017. The training was aimed at creating awareness on MH issues among the community leaders.
According to the organizer, a total of 27 individuals both from the Bhutanese and Nepalese communities, including leaders from the religious groups, college students, and medical interpreters attended the training.
The WHO Cares International, a Non-Profit Organization chaired by Manoj Rai, organized the training. WHO Cares International organized the event in partnership with State Refugee Program and Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).
Two bilingual (English and Nepali) certified trainers, Ashok Gurung, and Parangkush Subedi, Health Program Analyst, ORR facilitated the training.
Perry Griffin, a Mental Health Counselor in Charlotte observed and attended the training throughout the day.
Rai welcomed the participants, while Griffin also talked about local mental health resources. Talking to BNS, Rai extended gratitude to the State Refugee Program, NC and the Division of Refugee Health, ORR for their support. “Given the fact Charlotte has already seen few suicide cases, trainings of this nature are need of the hour,” added Rai.
The Health Promotion Case Manager from the Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency, Inc. also attended the training. “The training was very informative,” he said.
According to WHO Cares International, at least three resettled Bhutanese have taken their lives in recent months.
