Community Dialogue on Refugee and Immigrant Mental Health
It is estimated that one in three refugees living in the United States has suffered from a mental health disorder in their lifetime.
The psychological impact of forced migration and its subsequent effects on health and well-being are undoubtedly hard to measure. It is widely known that refugees are at greater risk of developing mental and psychosocial disorders, as a result of physical and emotional trauma. The disruption of familial and social networks combined with limitations on resources, increases the risk of developing acute and chronic diseases. Refugees also face unique post-migration stressors related to cultural, linguistic and structural barriers to self-sufficiency.
On Monday, October 17, 2016, Nile Sisters Development Initiative hosted a Community Dialogue on Refugee and Immigrant Mental Health. The purpose of this convening was to build upon the themes which emerged from the roundtable discussion with community, ethnic and faith-based leaders.
The next Community Dialogue on Refugee and Immigrant Mental Health will take place on Friday, November 18, 2016 from 9:00AM to 11:00AM. We will be utilizing an interactive design-thinking process to brainstorm strategies for improving access to mental and behavioral health services for refugees and immigrants in San Diego County.
