MWAM Self-Care Project #AloneTogether
Funded by the US Embassy Grants Programme:-
24th August 2020 -31 December 2020
The global pandemic which started in early 2020, left many people unemployed and isolated, perhaps none more so than migrants living on the margins of Maltese society. Studies have shown that instances of domestic abuse have risen during periods of confinement. Along with female asylum seekers and refugees, mental health has suffered immensely as a result of a lack of social interaction and opportunities for employment.
Taking all this into consideration Migrant Women Association Malta developed and implemented a Mental Health Hygiene project. Using the expertise of MWAM’s Intercultural Trainer and a Psychologist Trainer. The organization identified the mental health priorities of the target group and delivered the training through online channels in order to prioritize the health and safety of all participants.
The project consisted of six training sessions with different groups of female asylum seekers and refugees based in Hal Far Hangar Open Centre (HOC) and Ħal-Far Open Centre [HFO].
The sessions combined a teaching element on mental wellbeing, mental illness, and mental hygiene and also included an interactive element wherein participants were encouraged to share their own experiences of caring for their mental wellbeing.
The project created a safe space for the participants from different cultural backgrounds to share how mental health is approached within their respective cultures, and discuss self-care tips and practices. MWAM Self-Care #AloneTogether project has opened the door for more honest discussion around mental health among the migrant community in Malta while giving MWAM deeper insights into the mental health needs as well as physical needs of the women and families living in the open centers.
Due to the positive feedback from the target group and the numerous success stories of the participants, MWAM has decided to carry on the Alone Together self-care project by further developing the training sessions and continue providing psychosocial support to asylum seekers and female refugees and their families in Malta.
#AloneTogether