Good health encompasses both body AND soul. One's mental state is equally as important as physical health. But just as most of us experience illness from time to time, many of us will also experience some type of emotional crisis throughout our lifetime. In fact, an estimated 50 million Americans have some type of psychological difficulty or mental illness in any given year.

However, only a quarter of those will actually seek out and receive any type of mental health counseling. Why? There are many reasons: a lack of adequate health insurance, lack of information or a general fear of the unknown. Perhaps the most prevalent reason people don't get help is the stigma that our society attaches to mental illness. Simply stated, there are many who refuse to get help - or to encourage family members to get help - because they are afraid of what others may think.

This can be especially true for new Americans - those that come to our country from cultures where it is still quite normal for families to hide any sign of mental illness. Combine these beliefs with language barriers, mistrust, fear and discrimination and it becomes easy to understand why immigrants are especially hesitant to seek help.

The "Arab American and Chaldean Council Anti-Stigma Project" was designed to address this problem through public education and awareness. The intent was to reduce the fear and shame associated with treatment. The project used a variety of outreach techniques including:

• Brochures, in Arabic
• Cultural sensitivity training for community agencies, schools and providers of direct service
• A speakers bureau that is available by request for community groups
• Training clients to lead peer education groups
• Public service announcements, broadcast in Arabic
• A weekly radio program, in Arabic, that provides an opportunity for listeners to call in and ask questions
• A fundraising walk which also helped to raise awareness

The project has been an overwhelming success. In all, more than fifteen hundred (1,500) practitioners have participated in the trainings that offer techniques for providing a more culturally sensitive approach to providing service. The phone lines continue to run off the hook during the radio show and the number of Arab Americans seeking help for problems with mental illness continues to increase.

Here to accept the award for the Arab American and Chaldean Council Anti Stigma Project is Macomb County Community Mental.