By: Rae Daniel
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City area filmmaker Ebrima Abraham Sisay is putting people suffering from mental illness at the forefront and letting them know they’re not alone.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness and one in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness.
One in six children between the ages of 6 to 17 also experiences a mental health disorder.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among children 10-14, and the third leading cause of death for those who are 15-24 years old.
It’s the reason Sisay started The Freedom Project and Forum, which highlights, advocates and works to change the stigma surrounding mental health, through storytelling.
“The goal is to go out and tell other people’s story, including my story and then be able to reach other people,” Sisay said.