Project Overview
The Mental Health Promotion in Immigrant and Refugee Serving Organizations Project is funded by Immigration Refugee Citizenship Canada (IRCC) through the Settlement Program Service Delivery Improvements Funding (SDI) Stream. As the lead organization on this project, OCASI is partnering with community organizations across three sectors (immigrant and refugee serving organizations, primary health, and community mental health) to carry out the project over three years (2018 – 2021).
The project's overall goal is to build the capacity of newcomer and refugee services to promote mental health and newcomer wellbeing, and respond to mental health issues. The project aims to strengthen collaborations and partnerships between newcomer and refugee serving organizations, primary health, and mental health sectors through the development of a service model for mental health promotion.
Project activities will be carried out in three phases: 1) Needs assessment and environmental scan to develop a better understanding of service user and service provider needs and experiences; 2) Capacity building and service model design to promote mental health, enhance collaborations, and improve access to services; and 3) Scale up and dissemination of lessons learned through the development and pilot phase of the service model for mental health promotion. Expected project outcomes include:
- enhanced engagement of new and existing partners
- improved organizational capacity to promote mental health and to respond to mental health issues
- the development of an innovative service delivery model of mental health promotion
Project activities
Phase I: Needs assessment and environmental scan to develop a better understanding of service user and service provider needs and experiences;
Phase II: Capacity building and service model design to promote mental health, enhance collaborations, and improve access to services; and
Phase III: Scale up and dissemination of lessons learned through the development and pilot phase of the service model for mental health promotion
Webinars
Mental Health and Trauma Informed Care for Service Providers
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Webinar 1: Overview on Mental Health – What It Is – Demystifying Mental Health - Webinar 2: Mental Health and Stigma
- Webinar 3: Effective Support – Cultural Competence
- Webinar 4: Trauma Informed Care – What Does It Mean and How It Can Be Provided
- Webinar 5: Service Provider Self Care and Resiliency (Amid COVID-19)
- Webinar 6: Crisis Intervention – How to Mitigate Situations When Staff Face with Clients
Section 1 - Workplace Mental Health
- Increasing Capacity of Workers who have clients with mental health challenges
- Urban Poling for Mental Health Promotion
- Mood Walks
- Forest Therapy
- Workplace Stress and Self Care
- Mindfulness MBI in the Workplace
Section 2 - Mental Health Training & Trauma Informed Care
- MHW Training: Module 1 - Traumatic Stress and Compassion Fatigue
- MHW Training: Module 2 - Mood and Depression
- MHW Training: Module 3 - Stress and Anxiety
- MHW Training: Module 4 - Psychological Health and Anxiety
Section 3 - Navigating Ontario’s Health System
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Leading the Way in Mental Health Promotion for Refugees and Newcomers - Navigating the Ontario Healthcare System Part I
- Navigating the Ontario Healthcare System Part II
Events & Trainings
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Webinar Series: Mental Health and Trauma Informed Care for Service Providers (October 15, 2020 - November 26, 2020) - Trauma Informed Services Part 1 (December 3, 2018)
- Mental Health Promotion 101 (October 31, 2018)
- Mental Health Works (September 24, 2018)
Let's Stay Connected: Mental Health Promotion in Immigrant and Refugee Serving Organizations - Community of Practice
We will be hosting discussions and sharing resources through SettleNet. You are invited to join the conversation at the Mental Health Promotion in Immigrant and Refugee Serving Organizations group on settlenet.org/en/group/45/stream - a new national online Community of Practice for the Settlement Sector where you can ask questions, engage in discussion and search for resources that serve your professional development needs.
