The missing conversation about migration and mental health

By Farisai Dzemwa

When I was 16-year-old, I was sexually abused by a family friend when I was living in Zimbabwe.

Decorative image: kids and adults on a village in a Zimbabwean landscape

For the sake of my family's reputation, I kept this traumatic event a secret for many years.

This took an immense toll on my mental health.

Image showing Farisai when a teeneger surrounded by two adult women on a celebration event.

Now, through sharing my story, I want to highlight the ripple effect of unresolved trauma and depression.

Image portrait of Farisai sitting on a sofa looking directly at the camera.

By drawing attention to my own experiences, I aim to confront the stigma that still surrounds mental health problems within some migrant communities.

I want the cycle of lone suffering, that often passes from generation to generation, to be broken through openness, conversation, and acceptance.

Farisai speaking up on a conference at the International Life Centre at Coventry.

_{Farisai Dzemwa is a certified NLP practitioner, a practitioner of timeline therapies, and a mental health professional. Being both a community health champion and community journalist allows her to contribute to communities and society.}
_{Follow her on Twitter:}_{@Farisai_Dzemwa}

^{_{All images are provided by the author and subject to copyright
Photo images illustrated by Rebeca Binda
Video editing by Dean Arnett}}

A recent portrait of Farisai smiling to the camera in the UK