Dr. Ayana Jordan, a resident in psychiatry who has conducted research on the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction in West Africa, is helping to organize a series of radio shows in Sierra Leone with the goal of dispelling Ebola myths and teaching listeners how to cope with stress and grief.
Jordan discussed her connection to Sierra Leone, how the idea for the radio show originated, and her message for individuals living through the Ebola crisis.
How did you get involved with global mental health projects in Sierra Leone?
I have a global view of the underserved and feel a particular obligation to Africa, the motherland with which I identify. I discovered that psychiatry is a highly stigmatized field in much of Africa. A medical school classmate of mine started an organization called Wellbody Alliance (formerly the Global Action Foundation) that provides free medical care to people in the Kono District of Sierra Leone. In 2011, I was awarded a grant that enabled me to work in Sierra Leone for three months, chronicling the types of mental illness seen in the Kono population. Many victims of the civil war in Sierra Leone, namely child soldiers, amputated civilians, and rape victims, are shunned by the community and do not have access to mental health care services. I have returned to Sierra Leone three additional times—in 2012, 2013, and most recently in January 2014—to continue characterizing the stigma associated with mental illness and substance use disorders.
Why broadcast a radio show into Sierra Leone?
Given the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa, I have not been able to return and continue my research. Over the years, I have formed close relationships with people in Sierra Leone and resolved to help address the mental health needs of the people there during this crisis and to do whatever I can to dispel myths about the disease. I brainstormed possible projects with Sierra Leonean-born psychiatrist, Dr. Mandy Garber, who I met during my initial visit to Sierra Leone, and who currently practices in my hometown of Pittsburgh, Penn. We settled on the radio show idea, a platform that proved successful in reaching Haitians following the catastrophic earthquake of 2010.
What is the format of the program?
Four one-hour programs will air live on Star Radio in Sierra Leone. Thousands of people tune into this particular radio network. The shows are scheduled over four Saturdays in October and November and will be broadcast to the four largest cities in the country—the capital city of Freetown, as well as nearby cities Bo Town, Kenema, and Makeni. Broadcast in Krio, the common language spoken in Sierra Leone, the shows feature mental health providers speaking about Ebola, how the disease is spread, and the mental distress that is being caused by the crisis. Listeners can call-in with questions, and we also share local mental health resources so that individuals know where to go for counseling and assistance with coping skills.
Who are you collaborating with?
We are fortunate to have the cooperation and support of the Sierra Leone Mental Health Initiative, Enabling Access to Mental Health, the Mental Health Coalition of Sierra Leone, Yoga Strength, and the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture.
What types of questions are you responding to?
Listeners have asked about the physical symptoms of Ebola, how to know if they have Ebola, and how to care for people who have Ebola. The show’s first expert, Dr. Adeyinka Akinsulure-Smith, a Sierra Leonean-born psychologist and member of the faculty at The City College of New York, provided a lot of information on coping skills such as prayer, listening to the radio for information, talking to people on the phone, and deep breathing exercises as ways to cope with loss, grief, and stress.
What is your primary message for individuals in Sierra Leone who are coping with the Ebola outbreak?
You are not alone. Please do not feel abandoned. There are local and global mental health communities that are dedicated to helping you cope and ease the suffering of this tragedy.