Immigration & Mental Health: How Therapy Can Help

Immigrants and refugees experience a lot of stress. Mental health A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. is often ignored. California is home to over 11 million immigrants. The mental health A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. of immigrants and refugees is important. Therapy can help.  

Immigrants sometimes suffer trauma A deeply upsetting or disturbing experience. from war, poverty, and loss of loved ones. Children of immigrants can also experience stress. During COVID-19, researchers have seen an increase in mental health A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. issues. Immigrant families are a part of this increase. These families make up a large portion of employees who work in farms, grocery stores, hospitals, and restaurants. This increases their risk of COVID exposure.  An L.A. Times article reported that Filipinos are among the hardest hit in California because many work in healthcare. They often live with large families and suffer from conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. This can make it harder to recover from COVID. Filipinos are among the top three largest immigrant populations in CA. Many struggle with mental health A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. while they care for themselves and others in their families.

While immigrants and refugees struggle with mental health A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. , research shows that problems with money, privacy concerns, and the feeling of shame A painful feeling of humiliation, similar to guilt or regret. , prevents people from finding support. Talking about these problems and providing culturally informed mental health A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. services can be encouraging Giving someone support. . Mental health A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. services should be provided in different languages and costs should be kept low. This can help build trust, increase health and wellness, and strengthen the experience for immigrants. 

AllyNetwork wants to offer support and access to care for immigrants and refugees. Please take a look at AllyNetwork’s list of providers in your area. Call them to ask about their experience working in communities like yours.  

Tips and Resources Materials to help someone. for Mental Health A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. Support:

• If you are having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255). Counselors are available 24/7 to talk, answer questions, and help you during this challenging time. 
• If you have insurance, your insurance company can give you a list of therapists who can see you. Call therapists and ask if they have experiences working with people from your culture and with your specific needs.
• If you do not have insurance and you are a student, find out how your school can help. Health services are often included with tuition. 
• If you are not a student, your local college may also be a place that has low-cost, and sometimes free clinics with therapists-in-training.
• If you regularly attend religious or spiritual services (church, synagogue, temple) you can ask a trusted faith leader for support to access mental health A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. services. 

Mental Health A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. Resources Materials to help someone. :

• Integral Care  Mental Health A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. Hotline A phone line set up for a specific purpose, especially for use in emergencies. : Call 512-472-HELP, free 24-hour mental health A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. hotline A phone line set up for a specific purpose, especially for use in emergencies. with 15 languages.
• SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress To feel a lot of sorrow or pain. Line: Call 1-800-985-5990 or text "TalkWithUs" to 66746, offers trained crisis counselors. For Spanish, call 1-800-985-5990 and press 2 or text "Hablanos" to 66746. For other languages, call 1-800-985-5990 and indicate your preferred language to be connected with an interpreter A person who interprets, especially one who translates speech orally. .
• 1-800-662-4357 - National Helpline ( substance Something people use to cope with something. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana and nicotine also are considered drugs. abuse Violent treatment of a person. and mental health A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. ) offering service referrals The act of officially sending someone to a person or authority that is qualified to deal with them. in English and Spanish.
• COVID-19 Guidance for Immigrant Californians
• What Do I Need to Know About Privacy and Confidentiality?
• Self-Care Tips For Asian Americans Dealing With Racism Amid Coronavirus
• California Youth Immigrant Justice Alliance resource page