The land of the free and the home of the brave may take on a different meaning for some of the 80,000 Bhutanese refugees who have resettled in the United States, including the Rochester area. One of the fastest-growing refugee populations in America is dealing with a suicide issue. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the issue is endemic. On this Need to Know segment, we discuss why this is happening and what role if any the so-called “American Dream” plays. We’ll also learn about creative approaches being implemented to address a taboo topic in the Bhutanese culture – mental health. One of those efforts is a Bollywood-Style movie filmed in Rochester.
Guests on this segment include: Prajeet Magar, Executive Director of the Bhutanese Community of Greater Rochester. Jim Sutton, Director of Community Medicine at Rochester Regional Health System. Karan Thapa, Bhutanese Peer Counselor at Rochester Regional Health System and President of the Bhutanese Community of Greater Rochester.