Even after refugees and asylum seekers have arrived in New York City, most who were fleeing a harmful or dangerous situation, they may still not feel completely safe. This, coupled with the stress and uncertainty of the resettlement process can cause various mental health concerns in NYC’s migrant population. The New York State Office for Mental Health, in their Spotlight on Immigrant and Refugee Health, found that 1 in 3 refugees or asylum seekers experience high rates of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Oftentimes, this community will not seek out mental health care due to stigma, negative experiences in the past, or unfamiliarity with healthcare systems in the U.S. Furthermore, westernized mental health provisions tend to follow an individualized care model, which is not always as effective for those coming from collective-based cultures. 

This past year, the IRC in NY introduced the Health and Wellness department, which helps refugee and asylum seeker clients access public benefits, navigate healthcare systems, and access both individualized and group mental health interventions.  

With funding from the Office of New Americans, the IRC in NY’s Health and Wellness department has begun implementing the Community Adjustment Support Program (CASP). This new program consists of three separate wellness groups designed to promote a sense of collective healing and community. The three groups include: 

The curriculum for the group wellness sessions was inspired by the Pathways to Wellness Curriculum, which is widely used among refugee resettlement agencies.  Through these curriculum development exercises, the curriculum and sessions were adapted based on group participants' presenting needs and strengths, languages and cultures, gender identities, housing situation, work status and immigration status. 

Group sessions for the male asylum seeker group and remote group began in June and the Body Movement group began in September. A total of 15 sessions have been held so far! Each session has anywhere from 8 to 20 participants and there have been close to 40 participants enrolled in the program. All three groups will run until the end of May 2024. 

 

Adapting Program Delivery 

The IRC in NY initially planned to create a group specifically for Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees, but unfortunately experienced low turnout. To remedy this, the IRC in NY has identified new opportunities to engage other groups for programming, creating a more inclusive group for all refugees and immigrants, which began in September 2023.  

One area of support that the Health and Wellness team has identified has been the resettlement needs of group participants, many of whom are asylum seekers.  These needs include housing, legal, income and food needs as well as the ongoing uncertainty and instability faced in their current situation. As a result, resources have been integrated in sessions such as accessing legal services and food pantries, applying for asylum, and connecting to education courses. 

In each session, the group can have up to seven (7) different languages being spoken, which requires multiple interpreters. A Spanish-speaking team member from the Safety & Wellness program co-facilitated the remote session with the licensed therapist leading the group. Participants for in-person sessions have required Spanish, Russian, Turkish, Portuguese, French and Wolof languages. To address Turkish and Portuguese language needs, participants with strong English language abilities provided interpretation support as needed and the use of a telephonic interpretation service has also been utilized. Moving forward, IRC in NY will explore sustainable methods to ensure language needs are met! 

CASP Rocks
Rocks painted during a group session at the New Roots Community Garden in Queens!
Photo: IRC in NY

Program Successes 

Group participants have consistently reported that these sessions have been "very helpful" for them and that they offer an important space for them to talk about their issues and experiences, feel heard and validated, receive important information, and learn about their emotional wellness.  

Participants have shared how these community groups have helped them to identify and practice new coping skills such as focused breathing and coloring mandalas, which have shown to be especially soothing for group participants.  

After resources were shared to address various resettlement needs, group members reported and demonstrated increased knowledge and confidence in accessing information about their legal status, changing their address, and other valuable resources and benefits. They also used this as an opportunity to share additional resources and information that they had themselves with other group members, such as applying for a library card or driver's license, or even checking court appointment dates online.  

Lastly, when the group facilitator shared information on free events in NYC, some group members made a plan to go salsa dancing in Washington Square Park together the following week, as music and dance was an important way for group members to cope.   

Perhaps the greatest success of all, though, has been the sense of community built through these groups, bringing together clients from both similar and different backgrounds to listen and learn from each other.