The Eastern European/Middle Eastern (EE/ME) Underserved Cultural Communities (UsCC) subcommittee was established under the Mental Health Services Act to improve mental health access and reduce disparities for the EE/ME community in Los Angeles County. The subcommittee collaborates with community partners and consumers to enhance the public mental health system’s capacity to provide culturally competent, recovery-oriented services and projects.

For Fiscal Year 2022–2023, the EE/ME Subcommittee voted to implement the Sharing Our Stories Book Project: Immigrant Journeys Towards Mental and Emotional Well-being for Russian and Farsi-speaking communities. LACDMH contracted Mastaneh Moghadam from Cross Cultural Expressions (CCE) to develop and produce two coffee table books — one for the Russian/Ukrainian community and one for the Farsi-speaking community. Each story was translated into English to reach a broader audience.

The books feature short stories from 15–20 Russian and Farsi-speaking immigrants, highlighting their mental health, emotional, and social challenges as immigrants in the U.S. Each book also includes editorials with educational information about mental health issues and available resources. Contributing writers participated in art therapy sessions to explore their feelings and create artwork for inclusion in the books.

The project aimed to foster dialogue about mental health, normalize the struggles faced by Russian and Farsi-speaking immigrants, and provide education and resources. Additionally, it sought to reduce stigma and promote mental health services in a culturally engaging way. Dr. Anna Yaralyan, EE/ME Subcommittee Liaison, wrote the Statement of Work (SOW) and supported the vendor throughout the project.

The project spanned approximately one year, encompassing story collection, translation, editing, publishing, and promotion. After publication, book signing events were held at the Beverly Hills Public Library for both communities.

The events were well attended, with positive feedback from community members who expressed gratitude for the project. Comments included:

  • “This book made me realize I am not alone.”
  • “I learned so much about myself and my community.”
  • “The artwork is incredible; I can’t believe these contributors weren’t professional artists.”
  • “This book is important for Russian and Ukrainian people — it helps heal wounds and brings us together.”
  • “Where can I find art therapy services?”
  • “I have grief and trauma from the war in Ukraine — how can I get help?”
  • “The book showed me how much Iranians of all religions and backgrounds have in common.”

The Our Immigrant Stories series was highly regarded by both target communities. Attendees recommended publishing a second volume and securing additional funding to print more copies for wider distribution. The project vendor also suggested creating similar books for other immigrant communities in Los Angeles County.

Overall, the project was a success, empowering Russian and Farsi-speaking immigrants to share their stories and artwork, fostering community healing and learning on multiple levels. A total of 1,000 books were distributed free of charge, with digital copies available for ongoing access.

 

Links to the books:

Our Immigrant Stories – Iranian Diaspora

Our Immigrant Stories – Eastern European Diaspora