Home / Health / Calgary's Eritreans Sponsor PTSD Expert, Seeking Relief
Calgary's Eritreans Sponsor PTSD Expert, Seeking Relief
30 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Clinical psychologist Samuel Kebede offers specialized trauma therapy in Tigrinya.
- Eritrean community in Calgary seeks to sponsor Kebede to address newcomer mental health needs.
- Many newcomers struggle to access mainstream mental health services due to language and cultural barriers.
A group of Eritrean community members in Calgary are rallying to sponsor clinical psychologist Samuel Kebede, seeking to bridge the gap in mental health care for newcomers. Kebede, a refugee from Eritrea, specializes in treating trauma, including complex PTSD, which he describes as 'unhinged memory' where traumatic experiences splinter and resurface.
His ability to conduct therapy in Tigrinya, the native language of many Eritrean refugees, is seen as vital. The community highlights the significant challenges newcomers face navigating Canada's mainstream health-care system, often lacking translation services and culturally sensitive approaches.
This initiative comes amidst recent tragedies within Calgary's Eritrean community, underscoring the urgent need for accessible mental health support. Kebede's potential arrival aims to offer much-needed healing and facilitate better integration for refugees experiencing invisible wounds.
