Mental Health project in Brussels: Akku, cultural mediator | WEBCLIP Square ENG

What is a cultural mediator and why this position is key in the mental health project in Brussels ? Akku tells his reality and the challenges he faces.

MSB104137

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Mental Health project in Brussels: Akku, cultural mediator | WEBCLIP Vertical FR

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Mental Health Project in Brussels

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Unique Identifier Code / URN MSB104137

Date taken / Date Recorded 28/07/2021 12:00 AM

Country Belgium

Commissioning section MSF-BELGIUM

Photographer / videographer / producer Julien Dewarichet

Usage Rights (MSF) Advertising Campaign, External Media, MSF Fundraising, MSF Publications, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available yes

Editor's rating ★★★ (F)

Video format h264 (Main) (avc1 / 0x31637661)

Duration 2m28s

Maximum Size 1080px × 1920px 358.38 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist I feel like I'm representing a voice of two people who are talking to each other.

My name is Akku. Uh, I am from Ethiopia. 'I've been working with MSF for two years as a cultural mediator..

A cultural mediator is like a bridge where health professionals and the beneficiaries, they cross to reach each other and to understand each other better.

So this is the room where we first meet with our beneficiaries when they are coming to see us in the hub, to visit us in the hub. 'It's really important, these first meetings between cultural mediators and beneficiaries.

To just to give a little example in this room, I remember I met a patient.
He asked me: “why he referred me to see psychologists. I'm not crazy.”

In some cultures, the concept of mental health is not well-known. I explain with some examples, when you're injured emotionally, you have to see like-like doctor. You can consider like you are trying to heal from emotional pain. (It doesn't mean that they are crazy). So that's the way I explain.

This is where we build a trusted pathway where they follow-up with psychologists. So they can come to psychologist knowing a bit about why they are there and what they can benefit from this meeting with psychologist.

Of course, some stories never leave my mind., it's painful, but as much as I can, as I said, I try to convince myself, like I have to be strong and I have to recover. I have to recharge my energy., When I come here to just to focus on things, like make me a little bit out of the heavy stories and difficulties I hear at work.