Latino USA profiles immigrant-made media that heals Somali communities

Latino USA program

Latino USA  is NPR’s “weekly journal of news and culture. The only national, English language radio program from the Latino perspective.” And on this week’s show you’ll hear a 10-minute story about how Somalis in the United States are coping with mental health challenges. The story features the groundbreaking Egal Shidad DVD produced by and for Somalis as part of New Routes to Community Health.

LUSA host Maria Hinojosa says, “The idea to explore depression and trauma through a folk character (Egal Shidad) is one new approach for improving the health of immigrants. Many believe that stories are like medicine.”

The obvious questions is: Why is a Latino news show presenting a story about a Somali mental health? Katie Davis told me they get that question all the time. Davis is a 25-year veteran of public radio news and Senior Project Manager for the occasional immigrant series, New American Voices. It’s an experiment to think outside the box about who else, besides Latinos, is coming to the United States.

Each story will be an audio snapshot, illuminating the differences, similarities and connections among the growing numbers of new Americans.

Davis says, “People may come to the US fleeing war or seeking work, sponsored or undocumented, but once they get here, the immigrant experience is a path with similar milestones. They learn to adjust to this big, jangly, hyper-modern country. It’s a profound change that can take years. What we’ve learned through the series is that immigrants find a way.”

LUSA tapped reporter Andrew Stelzer to tell the Egal Shidad story. He’s worked as a daily news reporter and taught Somali youth to make community radio at KBOO-FM in Portland, Oregon.

Stelzer says this was a particularly challenging assignment. “As was pointed out to me, there are no mental health professionals in Somalia. It is typical for Somalis not to know that their physical symptoms are actually mental health problems. It’s a foreign concept that carries real stigma. People are considered “crazy”.

In the story, Stelzer follows one Somali patient at the Community University Health Care Center. The man initially came in for a problem with alcohol, but ultimately was treated for stress and depression.

The story goes on to explore “the prescription of media” that is the hallmark of all projects at New Routes to Community Health. Somali producer Mukhtar Gaaddasaar talks about creating the first DVD in Somali (with English subtitles) using a well-known folk character to show how mental health issues can be addressed holistically. Its message is to encourage those with symptoms to seek help—through their religious traditions, through talking openly with family, eating well, getting rest and exercise, and also by accessing Western medical resources.

As reporter Stelzer discovered “Self-empowerment and self determination is not only preferable for any people, but necessary for regaining power and control over your own life.” The Egal Shidad story, he says, is an important part of the larger immigrant story in America.

Listen to this week's episode of Latino USA and learn how media can make a difference.

Tags: Andrew Stelzer, Latino USA
Topics: Arts, Building Community, Community Media, Ethnic Media, Immigrants, Refugees