When we started Refugee Mental Health Network, then called Mental Health Family, we were a small dedicated team with a shared dream of supporting mental well-being in refugee communities. In those early days, we used our own funds, and we could only offer basic refreshments and minimal transport refund of about $2. Even with these challenges, we kept pushing forward, determined to make an impact in our communities.
Today, we’re officially registered, and running an 8-week therapy program for refugee mothers that are either victims of gender-based violence, sexual violence or both, the program combines mental health support in form of group therapy with yoga and financial literacy training. As we’ve grown, reaching over 1,000 people both online and in person, we’ve also seen the importance of having a central, reliable space where our community can find us consistently for therapy and follow-up care. Right now, our greatest need is for this dedicated space, as borrowing locations often creates challenges in maintaining regular support.
We’re also working hard to ensure we can continue supporting the mothers in our program, and we’re running a GoFundMe to help sustain these sessions. We’re hopeful that as more people see our work, they’ll feel inspired to join us in this vision, bringing us closer to a community where every refugee has access to healing, support, and resilience.
Alongside our mission to create a safe physical space with dedicated therapy rooms, we aim to train refugee mental health counselors who can provide therapy in local languages. This approach will break language barriers and offer culturally sensitive care, creating resilient communities where refugees can rebuild, heal, and thrive
GoFundMe link: https://gofund.me/7d841dab
Donate via Reframe: https://bit.ly/3As7c3p