TAMPA, Fla. — A film screening in Tampa on Saturday shined a light on mental health in the Haitian community.

What You Need To Know

  • Healing a Nation, an award-winning documentary, explores the stigma surrounding mental health in Haiti

  • Panel discussion in Tampa included culturally informed therapists discussing solutions and support

  • May marks Haitian Heritage Month, with events leading up to Haitian Flag Day on May 18

Healing a Nation is an award-winning mental health documentary.

It’s set in Haiti and dives into the impact of the 2010 earthquake on mental health.

After the screening, there was a panel discussion with culturally informed therapists.

The director and filmmaker Jean-René Rinvil says he wants to continue to engage the community on a topic that is often considered taboo.

“A lot of time we’re thinking, okay, hey, if you have a physical issue, guess what? You’re going to the doctor. But if it’s mental, no one wants to seek those types of help,” he said. “So for me, starting this with the conversation, it just opened the door for more people to really find the help that they need.”

May is Haitian Heritage Month, and the community plans to celebrate with a series of events, leading up to Haitian Flag Day on May 18.

Saturday’s “Symposium on Haitian Mental Health” was hosted by Spectrum Bay News 9’s Fadia Patterson.

Information for ongoing Haitian Heritage Month in Tampa Bay events can be found below: