Ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, European Network of Migrant Women is inviting all to the public launch of our Migrant Women’s Mental Health & Wellbeing report at 17:00 Central European Time on the 7th October 2021.

While preparing this report we came across a serious lack of data on migrant women accessing health services and, specifically, mental health services in different European countries. We are therefore aiming to publish this report as a door opener for a more comprehensive research and data collection (both qualitative and quantitative) on the mental health of migrant women in Europe.

“The availability of quality, women-centred and culturally appropriate support services for migrant women, and the low threshold in accessing such services, remain some of the key factors in helping migrant women who may suffer from mental distress, disorders and psychological ill-health”

The report consists of mainly primary data – interviews with different expert practitioners working with migrant women in Europe, as well as the testimonies of migrant and refugee women themselves, and secondary desk research – looking at existing policy reports, and academic research conducted with migrant communities. Our interviewees ranged from highly experienced professionals working in the area of preventing and combating violence, prostitution, female genital mutilation, victim support and assistance, specialists in maternal health and mental health, along with the migrant women who generously shared their stories and insights.

“When I was given the possibility to see mental health practitioners, they did not give me a chance to be part of the mental health planning. During the sessions they had the idea that anybody who comes from Africa, this is what they need. They had already made up their mind on the kind of questions they will ask and the kind of answers they will get. My psychologist, and a lot of people involved with my case, were not culturally informed, and they were not flexible. The people I met were not really specialised in migrant women issues, and the perspective of trafficked survivors.” - Malaika Oringo, Footprint to Freedom (Netherlands)

The report provides a synopsis of

- Different experiences of migrant and refugee women and professionals working with migrant women;
- A summary of different mental health factors that can trigger mental illness;
- A snapshot of challenges and root-causes which have a particularly grave impact on the wellbeing of migrant women;
- Barriers to accessing health and mental health services;
- Useful approaches for addressing migrant women’s needs in relation to mental- health and wellbeing.

The report will be made public on 7 October and will be available in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Russian.

When: Thursday October 7, 2021
Time: 17:00-19:00 Central European Time
Event will be online and in English.

Contact details

Frohar Poya, Project Officer, European Network of Migrant Women (ENoMW), frohar@migranwomennetwork.org.
Adriana S.Thiago, Communications Officer, European Network of Migrant Women (ENoMW), adriana@migrantwomennetwork.org