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By:
Harrison Maina | |||||||||
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Sep,10-2018 15:23:12
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WORCESTER, Mass.__Following recent reports of the spike in cases of young Kenyans in the diaspora taking their lives when faced with unprecedented social challenges, a coalition of Kenyan groups in the Worcester near Boston have planned to hold a serious discussion on the growing problem and ways to prevent it. In addition to the discussions, participants will also hear moving testimonials from various Kenyan families in the region who have lost their loved ones to suicide Dubbed the "discussion on emotional health and suicide prevention," the event will take place tomorrow Sunday September 2nd at 19 Temple Street, West Boylston MA from 3pm-7pm. Organized by the Uhai for Health (Life for health) charitable organization by Jane Kimani of Worcester focusing on alleviating various women health problems in the region, the has received support from other concerned groups including the Finest Sisterhood of Worcester, the new England chapter of the new US Women association popularly known as Kwitu , Kenyan-Men of Worcester (K-MoW), the new England Chapter of the equally new US Kenyan Men Association, KEMEN and various faith based communities. According to Jane Kimani, founder of Uhai for life, this will not be the first time her organization has held the debate on suicide prevention, although it is now receiving more attention following the spike in suicide rates among Kenyans in Boston. "We held a similar discussion later year as part of our effort to create awareness of the emotional health challenges that lead our youths to commit suicide. We had the family of the young Kenyan boy who committed suicide in Worcester come out and give a moving testimonial on their experience. It is very important for our community to come out and discuss this problem so we help find solutions and support the suffering families at the same time," she told Ajabu Africa News. "I think every youth is struggling in a way but we as parents are not aware of their struggles. Our meeting is for both the parents and children to come together to discuss how the disconnect of opinions is happening, then learn tools on how to communicate their feelings better," she added. Kimani said she hopes many parents will bring their youth to the crucial meeting that is expected to yield a lot of information on what the community could to do alleviate the underlying issues. She also urged parents and families who may have lost their loved ones to suicide to attend the crucial meeting to help the community understand what they are going through as well as learn crucial tools to cope with the painful losses. In addition to the Uhai for Life seminar, many concerned Kenyans including Dr. Penny Njoroge, a Kenyan mental health specialist and founder of theAngel Counseling Servicesbased in Birmingham Alabama have offered to volunteer free services to help the community come to terms with the suicide situation as well as other issues that tend t depress the youth. "It is very very sad and tragic when we continue losing so many of our talented youth. While it's very painful and hard on the grieving families to accept and admit the deaths as suicide, but facing and admitting this painful truth on the increase of suicides among us will help us address the underlying causes and hopefully save potential suicides by being more alert and proactive as a preventative measure. It's critical that churches, families and community organizations initiate these conversations as quickly as possible to hopefully intervene before it's too late for another life," wrote Dr. Penny while commenting on the recent suicide of a Kenyan girl in Lowell. "As a mental health professional here in the USA alongside many others of my colleagues, I would be more than glad to join your community and help start these conversations as you discuss some community interventions and also support the grieving families," she added while stressing that she had already held several similar sessions with grieving Kenyan families in the Diaspora. Touched by the recent reports, Caroline Kamau, a Kenyan USA beauty pageant contestant from New York has also volunteered to hold a free college preparation workshop for Kenyan youths on Saturday 20th October at the 74 South Common St in Lynn where several top speakers will advise on how to ease the stress of making choices during college entrance. Kamau said she will provide more information soon. However, she urged all college bound and Kenyan high school students in the region to make plans to attend. As for tomorrow's emotional health and suicide prevention discussion, parents and youths are urged arrive on time so they may have enough time for in depth discussions. For more information contact: Jane Kimani-508-736-5325 Ruth Kilungu-508-371-7218 Venue 19 Temple Street, West Boylston MA Sunday September 2, 2018 3pm-7pm. | |||||||||
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Source:
AJABU AFRICAN NEWS
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