Most immigrants leave their country because they want a better future for their children. For this reason it is very difficult to see children suffering. Like adults, children experience stress during their settlement process. Depending on their age they may not understand the reasons why they have left familiar places, relatives and friends.

When someone is experiencing mental health problems or illness, family member and friends play an important role in supporting well-being.

Most people can address their mental health concerns by being aware of them, learning about them and by introducing changes in their lives that increase the factors that protect their mental well-being.

An addiction is a habit or behaviour that is very hard to stop and interferes with a person’s life. Addictions can include dependence on a substance such as alcohol or a drug, or an activity like gambling.

Many people from different cultures, socio-economic backgrounds and religions have developed negative ideas about mental health problems and illnesses. This is called mental health stigma. It leads to discrimination and mistreatment of those experiencing mental health problems or illnesses, and prevents people from looking for help when they are in need.

You have several choices to get help.

Sometimes settlement stress puts us out of balance, which can create mental health problems. Mental health problems affect people’s emotions, thoughts and actions, and cause difficulties in everyday activities, whether at school, work or in relationships.

People react differently to the same stressors. Some people are more affected than others. It depends on personality types, family upbringing, life experiences, genetics, available resources and the ability to access them. Addressing settlement stress is key to maintaining your well-being. Here are some things that many newcomers say are useful to get back their mental, spiritual and…

Many people go through several steps, or stages, in their adaptation process to a new country. Some take longer than others to adapt and this may be related to having lived life under very different conditions and circumstances than those experienced in Canada. The following information will provide you with some understanding of the process you and…