Japa syndrome to take centre stage at New York Mental Health confab
The increasing incidence of mental health problems among Nigerians and black communities across the world will take centre stage as experts and others converge in Westchester in May, for the 2024 edition of Created Unique Mental Health conference.
The 4-day conference and experts’ engagements event holding in New York which opens from May 23, 2024, will address some of the established mental health problems that the Black community, especially those that have emigrated from Africa in search of better living conditions across the globe grapple with.
The conference would feature plenaries and networking sessions during which various categories of experts, including mental health practitioners in different specialities, government representatives, healthcare workers, religious leaders, and stakeholders in the United States and other parts of the world would engage in rich interactions, share experiences, and partake in a workshop for healthcare workers, that is filled with practical valuable tips for recognizing and successfully addressing mental health issues among various groups of people.
The Convener of the Conference, Ify Ezinwa, who spoke on the focus of the event said adequate time would also be spent to look at some of the mental health issues faced by Nigerians who have migrated to the United States and other countries in what has become famed as the Japa Syndrome.
Speaking from her base in New York, Ezinwa said, “Japa, as emigration has come to be known in Nigeria provides many facets of opportunities and problems. What you get from your host country depends on how mentally prepared you are. Unfortunately, most people who migrate just want to leave, a reason most of them go into mental health crisis once they are hit by unforeseen situations that give a contrary impression from their pre-conceived expectations.”
Citing quotes from the World Health Organisation, WHO, Ezinwa said, “There is no health without mental health.
“The global mental health crisis is a major issue facing the world today. This is evident in the staggering numbers of those affected in available data. Mental illness affects an estimated 950 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of disability across all age groups,” she quoted, adding that mental health issues have become the leading cause of suicide, accounting for over 800,000 deaths per year.
Speaking further, Ezinwa said “Minority groups, particularly Black people across the globe are more vulnerable and short-changed because they are a diverse group from different cultures, beliefs, traditions, and practices not understood by the majority of mental health specialists.
“Most current mental health education and awareness campaigns do not consider the diversity of the minority groups, hence, no significant impacts are made. This informed the conceptualization of the conference which will kick start our mental health awareness campaign and intervention”
On how to get succour, Ezinwa said, “Mental health experts unanimously agree that awareness, education and access to effective interventions and treatment is the only way to go in stemming the tide and helping those suffering from mental health.
Ezinwa, the founder of Echoes Africa Initiatives, a Not-for-Profit Organization based in New York, USA with the primary objective of serving the vulnerable said, “More than any other group, the Black community across the globe stands to be the primary beneficiaries of a world where the vast majority of mental health workers recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to mental illness. More strides would be made if cases are handled by experts who factor in individuals’ makeup based on their cultures, traditions, beliefs and history.”
Some of the experts who will be speaking at the event include the President of the Association of Nigerian Psychiatrists in the US, Dr. Sosunmola Shoyinka, who is Chief Medical Officer at Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services and Founder of “CURITAN Foundation.
Others are Dr Ted Iheanacho, US-based Clinical Psychiatrist and Associate professor at Yale University School of Medicine who chairs the Yale University Global Mental Health Program, and Founder of “The HAPPINESS Project;” Dr. Allen R. Miller, Clinical Psychologist, Director of Training and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) Programs and clinical psychologist at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy (BI) and Dr. Jean Wright, Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, Deputy Commissioner, Philadelphia Behavioral Health and Justice System.