This toolkit for community conversations about mental health is part of Alianza Americas' Bienestar: Estar Bien initiative and accompanies the campaign Strengthening Mental Health: Stories of Healing and Community Care. Its purpose is to support community organizations, leaders, and facilitators in organizing safe spaces for dialogue, reflection, and learning, using testimonial videos as tools to foster empathy, reduce stigma, and promote collective care.

This toolkit’s goals:

• Facilitate informed and respectful community conversations about mental health.
• Reduce the stigma associated with seeking emotional or psychological support.
• Promote access to culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health information and resources.
• Strengthen the role of community organizations as spaces of trust, support, and healing.
• Promote a vision of mental health as a human right and a collective responsibility.

Who is it for?

• Alianza Americas members
• Community leaders
• Group teachers, health promoters, and community educators.
• Service providers who work with Latino and immigrant communities.
• Community networks interested in promoting emotional well-being.

No specialized clinical training is required to use this toolkit. The most important thing is a commitment to active listening, respect, and creating safe spaces.

Before the event:

Define the purpose and objectives.

Before organizing the activity, it is important to clearly define what you want to achieve. For example:

• Inform about the importance of mental health and emotional well-being.
• Raise awareness of resources and services available in the community.
• Create a space for dialogue and mutual support.
• Empower people to seek help without fear or shame. Defining the purpose will help select the videos, the event format, and the discussion questions.

Defining the purpose will help you select the videos, the event format, and the discussion questions.

Selecting the Videos

• Choose 1 to 3 testimonials depending on the event's length.
• Prioritize stories that reflect the community's diverse experiences (age, gender, migration, life experiences).
• Consider the sensitivity of the topics (violence, suicide attempts, or depression) and prepare appropriate support materials.

The videos are available in a public playlist to facilitate their use and selection according to the event's focus.

‍Preparing the Space

The event can be held in person or virtually.

Recommendations:

• Ensure a safe, respectful, and non-judgmental environment.
• Inform participants from the outset that participation is voluntary.
• Ensure privacy and confidentiality.
• Have the necessary technical resources available (screen, projector, sound system, or a stable virtual platform).

Inviting the Community

• Create clear invitations that explain the purpose of the meeting.
• Use accessible and approachable language.
• Emphasize that it is a space for care, listening, and respect.
• Avoid alarmist or stigmatizing messages.

Identifying Facilitators

Facilitators should:

• Have experience in community work, mediation, or support.
• Feel comfortable guiding sensitive conversations.
• Be familiar with the principles of Bienestar: Estar Bien.
• Prepare the guiding questions and the meeting's dynamics in advance.

Also consider the facilitators' self-care before and after the event.

During the event

SUGGESTED AGENDA

Welcome and Introduction (5–10 minutes)

• Welcome participants and thank them for their participation.
• Explain the purpose of the meeting.
• Remind participants that this is a safe and confidential space.
• Establish basic agreements: respect, active listening, no interruptions, no judgment.
• Briefly present the campaign "Strengthening Mental Health: Stories of Healing and Community Care" and its connection to "Wellbeing: Being Well."

Video Screening (15–20 minutes)

• Show the selected videos.
• Invite participants to observe how they feel while listening to the stories.
• Suggest taking mental notes on what resonated most with them.
• Guided Discussion (30–40 minutes)

Facilitate an open conversation, being mindful of the group's pace and emotions. It is not necessary to answer all the questions; choose the most relevant ones for the group.

Guiding Questions for the Conversation

• Which stories or experiences shared in the videos resonated with you most and why? What stood out to you about the stories?
• What myths or stigmas did we identify surrounding mental health?
• What barriers did we observe in our community to accessing mental health services?
• What community resources exist for providing information about mental health?
• How can we support each other—neighbors, families, and organizations—to care for our mental health?
• What concrete actions can we take to promote emotional well-being in our community?

Closing the event (5–10 minutes)

• Thank participants for their participation and trust.
• Summarize the key messages from the conversation.
• Reaffirm that asking for help is an act of courage.
• Share information about available services and resources.
• Invite participants to continue the dialogue in other community spaces.

Recommendations for Handling Sensitive Situations

During the conversation, intense emotions or difficult personal experiences may arise.

• Ideally, ensure that someone on the team is certified in Mental Health First Aid. If you are interested in becoming certified in mental health first aid, please email info@alianzaamericas.org.
• Validate emotions without trying to resolve them.
• Avoid pressuring anyone to share.
• Have information on local support resources readily available.
• If someone shows signs of intense distress, offer private support after the event.

This space does not replace professional care, but it can be an important first step toward support and healing.

Other ways to share the videos:

• WhatsApp: Share short, empathetic messages.
• Community groups: Show the videos at meetings, workshops, or assemblies.
• Social media: Post with key messages.
• Educational settings: Use the videos as awareness-raising materials.

Suggested Social Media Posts

Message 1 – Series Launch

• Our video series for the Strengthening Mental Health campaign is now available: Stories of Healing and Community Care, part of the Bienestar: Estar Bien (Wellbeing: Being Well) project by Alianza Americas. We speak fearlessly, from within the community, about emotional well-being, self-care, and mutual support. https://bit.ly/4rPFzpP

Message 2

• Mental health is a human right that must be accessible to everyone, regardless of immigration status, socioeconomic level, or language. Breaking down stigma is also a form of collective care. https://bit.ly/4rPFzpP

Message 3

• Stigma remains one of the main barriers preventing many people from seeking mental health support. Listening, sharing, and speaking openly can save lives. https://bit.ly/4rPFzpP

Message 4

• Chronic stress, fear of detention or deportation, and family separation have profound effects on the mental health of our communities. Healing in community is urgent and necessary. https://bit.ly/4rPFzpP

Message 5

• Investing in prevention, community education, and culturally relevant services strengthens the resilience and well-being of Latino and immigrant families. Mental health is also built in unity. https://bit.ly/4rPFzpP

Mental health is an essential component of individual and collective well-being. However, in many Latino and immigrant communities, it remains a topic surrounded by stigma, silence, and structural barriers.

At Bienestar: Estar Bien (Wellbeing: Being Well), we believe that mental health is a human right and a shared responsibility. Promoting open, informed, and compassionate conversations strengthens the resilience of our communities and brings us closer to collective healing.

Breaking the stigma begins with listening. Healing is possible when we do it in community.