• Episode 161
  • 38 min

Therapy is Almost Like Dating: Navigating Mental Health in Immigrant Communities

About this episode

Thank You to Our Sponsor

A special thank you to our My City My Health Presenting Sponsor, UnityPoint Health. To learn more about UnityPoint, visit www.unitypoint.org.

In this episode of The Healthy Project Podcast, we sit down with Kenya Caledon Ceron, a passionate advocate for immigrant rights and mental health services. Kenya shares her powerful personal story of overcoming childhood trauma, receiving a PTSD diagnosis, and navigating the unique barriers that immigrants face in accessing mental health care. She discusses the intersection of cultural competency, religion, and mental health, and the importance of systemic change to serve immigrant communities in Iowa better.

Join us as we explore Kenya’s journey from trauma to advocacy, her legislative work to protect immigrant rights, and her advice for those struggling to find the right mental health support. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in mental health, immigration, and social justice.

Brooklyn Lowry welcomes listeners to The Healthy Project Podcast and introduces the guest, Kenya Caledon Ceron.

Kenya shares her experience migrating to the U.S. at 11 years old and how it impacted her mental health.

Discussing the significance of receiving a PTSD diagnosis and how it helped Kenya understand her experiences.

The cultural, religious, and linguistic challenges that immigrants face in accessing mental health care.

Kenya highlights the need for healthcare providers to understand the cultural context of their immigrant patients.

Kenya explains her involvement in Iowa’s legislative process to protect immigrant communities and promote mental health services.

How Kenya became knowledgeable about state policies and her advice for others interested in advocacy.

Kenya shares what she’s currently working on and her hopes for the future of immigrant rights and mental health.

Brooklyn thanks Kenya for her insights and encourages listeners to get involved in advocacy.

Register for the My City My Health Conference

Don’t miss out on this year’s My City My Health Conference! Register now at www.mycity.health to join the conversation on health equity and advocacy.

Chapter Markers

  1. Introduction
  2. Kenya’s Immigration Journey
  3. The PTSD Diagnosis
  4. Barriers to Therapy
  5. The Importance of Cultural Competency
  6. Advocacy and Legislative Work
  7. Mentorship and Policy Education
  8. Current Projects and Future Goals
  9. Closing Remarks

Share this episode

Found this conversation useful?

A rating takes about a minute and is the single biggest thing that helps new listeners find the show.

Newsletter

Public health worth paying attention to.

One conversation. Key takeaways. Stories, research, and resources you can use.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.