By Lisa Hattori, evaluation and research lead, and Dr. Jenn Esala, senior evaluator and researcher

Imagine that you are on your way home from work and receive a call from an unknown number. They leave a voicemail threatening you because of how you voted in the last election. This has been happening for weeks. You have been seeing masked strangers walking around your neighborhood, and one day, you find that someone has broken into your home and left a death threat. You hear stories of people being detained and physically harmed. Some are never seen again. Fearful for your life and worried your presence is endangering your family, you leave your home, your country, and everything you know. 

You are now alone in a new country where no one speaks your language, your decades of work experience mean nothing, and you are sleeping on a stranger’s couch. People tell you to “go back to your country” and get impatient when you try to speak a new and unfamiliar language. You fear you may be detained and/or deported for finding a job. You don’t know whom to trust. This is the experience of many forced migrants. 

Moving to a new country brings countless stressors like finding work, paying for food and housing, transportation without a car, and learning about vital systems such as healthcare.  These challenges are compounded by loneliness and social isolation, which increase the risk of depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease and premature mortality.

On Human Rights Day, when we recognize the basic dignity and rights all people deserve, it is important to reflect on our innate desire for and right to social connection and care. Social connection is increasingly recognized as an essential component of existing human rights, particularly the rights to health, including social determinants such as social support and connectedness (ICESCR Art. 12), family life (ICCPR Art. 23), freedom of association (UDHR Art. 20), and participation in community life (UDHR Art. 27). Meaningful social relationships are fundamental to human dignity and well-being.

Meaningful social relationships are fundamental to human dignity and well-being.”

In recent years, the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) has expanded programming to uphold this fundamental right by facilitating safe spaces for genuine connections, normalizing responses to trauma in order to restore a sense of safety and control, and most importantly, reminding people that they are not alone. CVT offers a range of group programs tailored to various communities, including specific cultural traditions and preferred languages, noting important linkages with mental health. This may look like a ‘Charlita’ or ‘chit-chat’ about one’s new country in the Mariposa program in Arizona; a leadership class for middle school children provided by CVT in Georgia; or a parenting support group in Minnesota.

Despite the diversity in design, psychoeducational and therapeutic groups have consistently resulted in clients connecting around shared experience, sharing joys and challenges and supporting one another. Such connections can facilitate the development and use of healthy coping skills and can build a sense of community. 

These benefits are illustrated by two CVT projects that are coming to a close. The Arman (meaning ‘hope’ in Dari) and Raahat (meaning ‘tranquility, comfort, and ease’) projects in Georgia and Minnesota, respectively, aim to support the emotional, social and physical well-being of Afghan arrivals as they adapt to life in the United States.

Despite the diversity in design, psychoeducational and therapeutic groups have consistently resulted in clients connecting around shared experience, sharing joys and challenges and supporting one another.”

A mixed-methods program evaluation was completed recently to assess the impact of Arman and Raahat services on well-being and gather community feedback to inform recommendations about future programming. Data from a total of 360 unique individuals (172 Raahat clients and community members; 179 Arman clients, and 9 staff across programs) were collected from sources including clinical assessments, staff surveys, client interviews, client focus groups, and interviews with community members. The resulting findings emphasize the power of connection. 

Accessing resources through CVT programming.
As is common when people adjust to a new country, there are challenges of accessing resources to meet their needs. In the Arman project, 76% of clients were experiencing challenges in meeting basic needs. Following case management support from CVT and partner organizations, like Afghan Cultural Society and the International Rescue Committee, 81% of clients experiencing initial challenges were able to connect with resources and overcome barriers. 

Support navigating a new country context.
During the evaluation, community members emphasized the importance of support in navigating a new culture and country. They encouraged CVT (or others serving the Afghan community) to provide courses on the English language, financial literacy in the U.S., and workforce development. Community members linked such services with mental health outcomes: “from the beginning, when people come, entering the workforce early helps prevent depression.”

These evaluation findings are consistent with research that shows that developing the ability to navigate U.S. systems and processes is critical to integration, accessing services, and ultimately enhancing wellbeing.

CVT groups facilitate connection and enhance social wellbeing.
CVT’s psychoeducation and psychotherapy groups raise awareness, encourage development and use of coping skills, and foster social connection: all especially important in a new and unfamiliar place. Raahat clients responded to the question, “Since starting services, have you noticed changes in your social well-being?” with an average score that indicated “strong positive change.”

In interviews, a number of clients specifically noted appreciation for connecting with others of similar cultural backgrounds: “when I first came to the U.S., … I felt extremely lonely and could do nothing but cry…. Since participating, I’ve been feeling much better. [I got] to know other Afghan women, build friendships, and talk about our problems with both the group and our counselor.”

Not only did the groups provide opportunities to meet with other women, but groups served the purpose of providing a safe space to openly discuss challenges. As another client shared, “though I know some other Afghan women in the vicinity, it was really difficult for me to ask them about things I did not know for the fear of being judged or being made fun of for me not knowing.”

The combination of facilitating a safe space and bringing together newly arrived individuals from similar cultural backgrounds was a catalyst for building trust and driving supportive discussions on adjusting to a new country. As one client described, groups allowed participants to“navigat[e] the differences in culture [and] adapt to the new ways of doing things” in their new home country.

While the therapeutic value may be underappreciated, programs where people “made new friends, had fun together,” and “get out of the house” have ripple effects on mental health.

All of us deserve an opportunity to cultivate meaningful social relationships, as these are fundamental to dignity and well-being.”

On Human Rights Day, we highlight the importance of mental health programs focused on social connection. All of us deserve an opportunity to cultivate meaningful social relationships, as these are fundamental to dignity and well-being.