If you want to talk health, you have to talk social connection.

The loss of five young East African men to suicide in a San Diego neighborhood spurred the community to take action. The United Women of East Africa Support Team (UWEAST) and its partners created a safe space where young men, many of them immigrants and refugees, can be themselves, connect with peers, and get the support they need to live healthy lives. At a time when diseases of despair like suicide and substance misuse are on the rise, community-led efforts like the UWEAST Making Connections Hub show how we can turn the tide.