The goal of this project is to increase awareness and knowledge of mental illness signs and symptoms, as well as improved access to mental health services for the Armenian community in Service Areas 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 where a high concentration of the Armenian community members resides. The Armenian Poetry Circles for Mental Health Project ultimately seeks to reduce isolation and increase social interactions for Armenian speaking older adults. The project will also provide an opportunity for Armenian speaking older adults to process their emotional and mental health issues using poetry. This project hopes to reduce the stigma that continues to exist within the Armenian speaking community toward seeking mental health services and change negative cultural attitudes about mental illness. Additionally, this project aims to normalize conversations around mental health and increase this community’s utilization of mental health services. There are more than 550,000, Armenians who live in Southern California in cities such as La Canada, Burbank, North Hollywood, Hollywood, Glendale, Pasadena, Los Angeles, and Montebello.
