In recent years, the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities have faced growing mental health challenges, with a particularly profound impact on our younger generation. We are mourning the loss of many young adults, while countless others continue to struggle silently with mental health related concerns. These losses have deeply affected families and reverberated throughout the broader community.
In response, the African Coalition, in partnership with community leaders and African community–based organizations, has worked tirelessly to address these challenges by bringing community members together and creating safe, supportive spaces for collective healing. Central to this effort has been listening closely to stakeholder perspectives and supporting the community through a shared process of grief, reflection, and healing.
To further strengthen this work, we engaged partner organizations across the country including groups in the DMV area, Atlanta, and other states to build a collaborative and unified approach. Through these collective efforts, we launched our first collaborative community mental health conference, held on January 31 in Los Angeles. The conference served as a vital platform for dialogue, awareness, and coordinated action.
