A8: Promoting Positive Mental Health for Immigrants and Refugees
Mental health promotion is the process of enhancing the capacity of individuals and communities to take control over their lives and improve their mental health. Mental health promotion also advances inclusion, equity and social justice, and is respectful of cultural diversity and personal dignity.
The Best Practice Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion Programs for Immigrants and the Best Practice Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion Programs for Refugees are two new additions to a series of online guides that present health and social service providers with evidence-based approaches in the application of mental health promotion concepts and principles. These guides support the integration of best practice approaches to interventions for people new to Canada with guidelines that underscore the fundamental importance of promoting positive mental health in addressing the challenges facing newcomers.
This interactive workshop will facilitate group activities to introduce the guides and demonstrate evidence-based practices and tools in diverse settings. At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
1. Outline mental health promotion best practices related to immigrants and refugees
2. Describe mental health promotion in action through exemplary programs
3. Apply mental health promotion principles into practice via the guides’ tools
As Senior Health Promotion Consultant at CAMH, Marianne Kobus-Matthews’ work centres on health promotion, mental health promotion, healthy public policy and chronic disease prevention. Marianne is CAMH’s lead on the development of a series of online guides focusing on evidence-based approaches in promoting positive mental health across the life span and for diverse populations.
Angela Martella joined CAMH over three years ago as a Program Consultant in the GTA West Area. Her work currently involves a variety of health promotion projects related to mental health and addictions with a particular focus on community engagement, health equity, families and youth. Prior to joining CAMH, Angela worked at an immigrant service agency for over seven years developing education and awareness initiatives in collaboration with ethno cultural groups.
