WICHITA, Kan. (Telemundo Kansas) – This Friday the organization Sun Flower Community Action will organize a community forum. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the issue of mental health within minority communities.
“I think that many times many of us have grown up with that, ‘dirty clothes are washed at home’ right? so when we talk regarding mental health sometimes we see it as something that should not be talked regarding”, said the director for the organization Sun Flower Community ActionNew Telles.
Since the beginning of the community forums, the goal for Telles has been to raise awareness regarding important issues such as physical and mental health, child abuse, and immigration among others.
This month the focus is on having a discussion regarding mental health and answering questions from the community.
“Because it’s important to talk regarding it, because we don’t want to get to where our children or ourselves are in a situation where we’re considering ending our lives,” Telles said.
So far this year, cases of depression, anxiety, domestic violence and child abuse have increased in the United States. In Kansas the organization Wichita Child Advocacy Center has seen an increase in reports of neglect, mental and sexual abuse of minors.
“Especially now that the children have returned to school and are having more communication with other adults,” said Hispanic services specialist Marlene Ibarra.
Ibarra hopes that the more people who attend meetings like these, the fewer cases of abuse will be seen in Sedgwick County.
“If we begin to normalize talking regarding these issues that are sometimes difficult to express and we give more information to the community, they will be more willing to receive help,” Ibarra said.
The mental health workshop will be Friday, February 18 at 6:00 pm at the Evergreen Recreation Center.
