Bridging Yet Another Health Gap: CHamoru Glossary on Behavioral Health and Disabilities Is Now Available

A first edition of the Fino’ Siha Put Kinalamten Salut Yan Inutet Gi I Fino’ CHamoru (Behavioral Health and Disabilities Glossary in Chamoru) is now available as an important community resource. The University of Guam’s Center of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research, and Service (Guam CEDDERS) will release complimentary copies of this “Glossary” on Friday, August 4, 2017, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., at the Guam Museum’s Multicultural Room in Hagåtña. 

The CHamoru glossary aims to facilitate communication about mental illness and disabilities in the CHamoru language."Although not an exhaustive glossary, it can help CHamoru speakers use other words and phrases to describe the conditions being experienced, endured, and/or observed," said Mariles Benavente, MSW, ACSW, Editor of the Glossary and former Guam CEDDERS Cultural and Linguistic Competence Consultant.  "Hopefully, the use of the Glossary can evoke more informed decisions about getting, and giving, the right kind of help, or to better arm others to respond with more compassion and understanding towards those who face these challenges."  

The production of this Glossary was made possible through collaboration between Guam CEDDERS, Project Kariñu and Guam LAUNCH under the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS), and the PEACE Program under the Prevention and Training Branch of the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center (GBHWC). 

Critical to the successful publication of the Glossary was the partnership with an exceptional team of CHamoru Language Specialists: Rufina Mendiola, Ronald Laguaña, Maria Ana Rivera, Rosa Palomo, Teresita Flores, Joseph Franquez, and Dr. Patricia Taimanglo (content specialist). Contributors to the book include Dr. Lilli Perez, Dr. Tricia Lizama, Zita Pangelinan and well-known artist, Dr. Judy Flores.