• The Biya Belayneh Foundation for Mental Health

Who We Are

• The BBF for Mental Health was formed in memory of Biya Belayneh who passed away in 2021 after a long and hard fought battle with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and substance abuse issues. Biya and his family watched his lifestyle and health spiral for over 15 years, as they poured all of their energy and resources into trying to understand and navigate the treatment process.
• We gather as friends and family of Biya Belayneh, others who suffer from mental illness and as the families and community that care for people with mental illness. We want to share the lessons learned and experiences that we have gathered over the years in hopes to help our community understand mental illness so they can seek access to a full range of available mental health care and support services.

Our Mission

The mission of Biya Belayneh Foundation (BBF) is to raise awareness about mental health disorders in the Ethiopian and Eritrean Diaspora communities and beyond. BBF strives to improve the quality of life for those living with mental illness and their families by collecting and sharing information on critical services and resources necessary to support them.

Our Vision

A world where mental health is destigmatized and those in the Ethiopian and Eritrean diaspora communities experiencing mental health illness have access to mental health care and support services.

Goals and Objectives

• Raise awareness in the Ethiopian and Eritrean diaspora communities and beyond about mental illness;
• Minimize the stigma around mental illness;
• Advocate for mental health awareness and treatment to include therapy, lifestyle changes, and medications where appropriate; and
• Advocate for mental health reform.

What We Do

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• Engage the families of individuals experiencing mental illness, mental health professionals and the larger mental health community through experience sharing;
• Collect and disseminate information within our reach on healthcare resources available to mental health patients and their families;
• Raise funds and acquire other resources to support the outreach activities of BBF;

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What is Mental Illness?

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“Illnesses characterized by clinically significant disturbances in an individual’s cognitive and emotional relations or behavior.”

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- The World Health Organization (WHO)

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What Does Mental Illness Look Like?

• Mood Change
• Withdrawal
• Excessive Worrying
• Fear
• Increased Anxiety
• Hallucination or Hearing Voices
• Irritability
• Changing Appetite (excessive eating or starving)
• Risk Behavior (eg. violation of the law)
• Drug or Alcohol Abuse
• Lack of Clarity in Thinking
• Feeling Hopelessness
• Fatigue
• Difficulty Concentration
• Suicidal Ideation

Schizophrenia

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“A disease that strikes at the very core of what makes us human.”

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- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Bipolar Disorder

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“Bipolar Disorder is a mental illness that causes unusual shifts in a person’s mood, energy, activity levels and concentration.”

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- National Institute of Health (NIH)

Bipolar Disorder Cont…

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The 3 Type of Bipolar Disorder

• Manic Episodes
• Depressive Episodes
• Hypomanic

Depression

Depression is a mental illness characterized by persistent feelings of isolation, fear, anxiety, hopelessness and a loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities.

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Addiction and Dual Diagnosis

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Dual Diagnosis is a severe case of addiction, where mental illness and addiction occur at the same time.

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“The link between mental illness and addiction is ‘complex’”

- Alcohol and Drug Foundation

Stigma

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“Mental health stigma involves judgment and shame towards the victim, often out of ignorance and socio-cultural beliefs.”

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- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

www.bbfoundationmh.org

@bbfmentalhealth

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