Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 3110

Tonight's special guest is Chisara Okehi from  Fairfield, California , a child abuse survivor, social worker and author who says, "I am here to educate, empower and encourage others to heal from childhood trauma." Chisara believes no one should be stigmatized for having mental illness and that society should provide treatment. Chisara and her siblings were kidnapped from Nigeria and taken to the US by their mentally ill mother, an act that would take a life-altering toll on her life. Family and society stigmatized, ignored, cast her mother aside because of her mental illness, when really she needed help. Her book 'I Need Help' crystalizes Chisara's struggles with being raised by a mother with untreated mental illness, and it highlights the need for an open discussion in the Nigerian and African American communities. Her own family dysfunction led to a career as a Child Protection Investigator, advocating protection, love, compassion for abused and neglected children. She advocates for people living with mental illness, works to de-stigmatization the dysfunction, and provides treatment so people can heal. Chisara is now an accomplished professional social worker with years of experience in the healing and mental health profession. She has identified common themes related to trauma (and stigma) faced by people with mental illness. Chisara continues discussions about thought-provoking topics on childhood trauma, stigmatization, mental health, grief, sexual abuse, and domestic violence. She loves working with children, teens, women, couples and families.