Education and Outreach

In order to improve the quality of mental health care available to Japanese inside and outside of Japan, CJMH seeks to improve the quality, quantity and accessibility of mental health services available to the Japanese public by advocating Japanese government regulation, licensing and oversight of psychotherapists and psychologists and the recognition and compensation of psychotherapy services by Japanese insurance companies and policies. CJMH advocates this position by participating in and facilitating educational exchanges between Japanese mental health agencies and American counterparts and education of the Japanese general public about mental illness and treatment and the capabilities of outpatient care by mental health practitioners of psychotherapy by way of public speaking and information dissemination.

CJMH develops educational and training materials in English and Japanese to educate the general Japanese public and Japanese providers of mental health and social support on issues regarding mental health and mental illness. The goals for educational dissemination are to desensitize and lessen the stigma traditionally associated with mental illness in Japan and among Japanese, educate the Japanese populace on mental disorders, how to recognize symptoms of mental disorders, the benefits of seeking proper treatment, the role and capabilities of various types of providers, and how to obtain and recognize proper treatment.

CJMH seeks opportunities to speak before Japanese community groups on topics related to mental health and psychotherapy that are of interest to the general public including PTSD, depression, suicide, caring for the elderly, caring for those with severe and persistent mental illness, parenting, and communication in multicultural families. CJMH engages local, Japanese-speaking mental health practitioners to volunteer as guest speakers. CJMH is also hiring interns/trainees, psychotherapists, psychologists, and social workers to develop and implement CJMH programs and events, including the speaker series. CJMH i nterns have given talks about parenting at Kodomo No Ie, a Japanese language preschool serving the San Gabriel Valley. CJMH arranged a guest speaker to present before the District Attorney’s Office in Downtown Los Angeles regarding the challenges and opportunities to better engage the Japanese-speaking population to utilize Victim of Crime and Victim Assistance Program services.