Indianapolis is rolling out behavioral health grants to improve cultural equity for Haitian and Burmese communities. This initiative seeks to address and reduce disparities in mental health services, ensuring that these communities receive the support they need to thrive.
The announcement was made by the Office of Public Health and Safety (OPHS), Mental Health America of Indiana (MHAI) and community leaders from the Haitian and Burmese populations.
“Through this pilot, we are ensuring that someone will always be there for (those in need). Someone who not only understands their struggle, but also understands them, their language and their culture,” said Martine Romy Bernard-Tucker, director of OPHS.
According to Bernard-Tucker, the program will begin in the smaller Burmese and Haitian communities in Indianapolis and is designed to ensure equality in mental health treatment.
The Burmese and Haitian local associations will hold public forums and recruit 10 individuals to be trained by MHAI to become certified peer recovery coaches.
By bridging the cultural and language gap, Bernard-Tucker hopes the stigma of mental health will be reduced in these cultures.
“In every culture, the concept of togetherness is present and important,” Bernard-Tucker said. “The Burmese flag’s colors represent solidarity and unity. The Haitian flag reads ‘L’Union Fait La Force’ which translated literally means ‘unity is strength.’”
There are about 10,000 Haitians in Indianapolis, making it one of several large ethnic groups in the area. Leone Jean-Baptiste, a representative for the Haitian Association of Indiana, understands what his people and the Burmese have been through, including brutal military regimes and significant political upheaval.
“Even though they have now resettled in their community and are making a very good life for themselves, the trauma and anguish do not go away easily,” Jean-Baptiste said.
Indianapolis is home to the largest Burmese population in the U.S., with about 40,000 residents in Marion County. Naw Eh Phaw, a representative for the Burmese Community of North America, is eager for the program to help those like her.
“The Burmese Community of North America is thankful for the opportunity to be the recipient of the behavioral health cultural equity grants.” Phaw said. “It is heartbreaking to see that our community has faced some challenges, and recently, we have lost quit a lot of community members due to not having access to mental health resources.”
The behavioral health cultural equity grants are the next step in the city’s multimillion-dollar plan to tackle mental health disparities in Indianapolis. The MHAI community forums are expected to begin soon, and the selection of peer coaches will be made shortly following the forums.
For more information, visit mhai.net.
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Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
