If you are in crisis, call or text 988.
World Refugee Day: mental health support for refugees and displaced people
World Refugee Day is June 20. It was established by the United Nations in 2000 to mark the anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention and to honor the resilience of the more than 100 million people worldwide who have been forcibly displaced (UNHCR, 2023). This article is about the mental health side of that reality, and about what actually helps.
When it is and why it matters
World Refugee Day falls every year on June 20. It is not a holiday. It is a day of recognition, for people who left countries they loved because staying was not safe, who arrived in new places without the context that makes daily life legible, and who are often managing grief, trauma, and survival at the same time.
The mental health needs of displaced people are not niche. In my work, the folks who come to groups after resettlement or displacement are often carrying more than most people in any given room. And the structural barriers to care, language, immigration status, cost, cultural stigma, lack of culturally matched providers, are real. They are the reason so many people go without support for years.
What the research says
Refugee mental health research consistently finds high rates of PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and consistently finds that those rates improve with social connection and community-based support. A meta-analysis in JAMA found that among resettled refugees, rates of PTSD range from 9% to 36%, and major depression rates from 5% to 31%, with significant variation by country of origin, resettlement context, and time since displacement (Steel et al., 2009). More recent work from the Journal of Refugee Studies found that post-migration stressors, housing instability, family separation, discrimination, documentation uncertainty, are as predictive of poor mental health outcomes as pre-migration trauma (Li et al., 2016).
What helps? The evidence points toward a few things: culturally matched peer support, community-level interventions rather than purely individual clinical approaches, and reduction of post-migration stressors like language barriers and legal uncertainty (Turrini et al., 2017). Peer support groups that bring together people with shared displacement experiences have shown meaningful effects on depression and social isolation in several studies (Slobodin & de Jong, 2015).
For many displaced people, a peer group, especially one led by someone who has been through the same thing, is more accessible, more culturally resonant, and more likely to be used than individual clinical therapy.
What does a refugee mental health support group look like?
A refugee mental health support group is a structured space where people who have been displaced, resettled, or who have lived through forced migration come together for peer support, skill-sharing, and connection. Some groups are clinician-led and focused on trauma processing; others are peer-led and more community-focused. Both can be useful depending on where you are in your experience. Many are multilingual or culturally specific to a particular diaspora community.
Unlike individual therapy, a group puts you in a room, or a video call, with people who have been through something similar. The shared context changes what is possible. You do not have to explain what it means to not know when you will see your family again. In practice, we find that this shared understanding reduces the amount of time people spend managing others’ reactions and leaves more room for actual support.
Groups for refugees and displaced people in our directory
If you are looking for a support group specific to your experience, here are some ways to search:
- Find refugee and immigrant support groups in our directory
- Search for trauma support groups near you
- Find groups for immigrants and displaced people
Many groups in our directory are culturally specific, multilingual, or led by facilitators with lived experience of migration. Use the keyword search to narrow by language, population, or issue.
How do I choose the right group?
Not every group is going to be right for you. That is true for anyone, and it is especially true when trust and cultural safety matter. A few things to look for: Does the facilitator have lived experience or cultural grounding in your community? Is the group offered in your first language, or with interpretation? Is it free or sliding scale? Does it meet at a time and place that is actually accessible to you?
It is okay to visit more than one group before settling in. It is okay to not speak much at first. Most groups do not require you to share anything until you feel ready. If you are not ready for a group, or if you need individual clinical support first, NAMI and SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) can connect you with services regardless of income or documentation status.
Other resources
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential, 24/7)
- UNHCR Refugee Agency
- International Rescue Committee
- National Immigrant Justice Center
- NAMI
FAQ
What is a refugee mental health support group?
A refugee mental health support group is a structured space where people who have been displaced, resettled, or who have lived through forced migration can come together for peer support, skill-sharing, and connection. Some groups are clinician-led and focused on trauma processing; others are peer-led and more community-focused. Both can be useful depending on where you are in your experience. Groups may be multilingual, culturally specific, or open to anyone with a shared experience of displacement.
What are the most common mental health effects of displacement?
Research consistently identifies PTSD, depression, and anxiety as the most common mental health concerns among displaced people and refugees. Post-migration stressors, including housing instability, family separation, legal uncertainty, and discrimination, add to pre-migration trauma and can sustain or worsen symptoms over time. Social isolation is one of the most significant risk factors, which is part of why peer support groups are often among the most effective interventions.
Are there free mental health resources for refugees?
Yes. SAMHSA’s National Helpline is free, confidential, and available 24/7 at 1-800-662-4357. Many community mental health centers serve people regardless of documentation status or ability to pay. Some peer support groups are run by nonprofits or resettlement agencies and are entirely free. Our directory lists groups by format, cost, and population served, search for refugee or immigrant groups at thegroupguide.com/groups.
Can I join a support group if I don’t speak English?
Many groups are offered in languages other than English or with interpretation services. Use the keyword search in our directory to look for groups in your language. Resettlement agencies in your area, such as the IRC or local Catholic Charities branches, often know about multilingual groups that may not be widely advertised. NAMI also has resources and support lines in Spanish.
How do I find a trauma support group near me?
Start with our directory at thegroupguide.com/ptsd-support-groups/. You can also contact a local community mental health center, your resettlement agency if applicable, or SAMHSA’s treatment locator at findtreatment.gov. When you call, ask specifically whether they have groups that serve displaced or immigrant communities, and whether interpretation is available.
By Stephanie Smith, LCSW
References
Li, S. S. Y., Liddell, B. J., & Nickerson, A. (2016). The relationship between post-migration stress and psychological disorders in refugees and asylum seekers. Current Psychiatry Reports, 18(9), 82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-016-0723-0
Slobodin, O., & de Jong, J. T. V. M. (2015). Family interventions in traumatized immigrants and refugees: A systematic review. Transcultural Psychiatry, 52(6), 723–742. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363461515588855
Steel, Z., Chey, T., Silove, D., Marnane, C., Bryant, R. A., & van Ommeren, M. (2009). Association of torture and other potentially traumatic events with mental health outcomes among populations exposed to mass conflict and displacement. JAMA, 302(5), 537–549. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.1132
Turrini, G., Purgato, M., Ballette, F., Nosè, M., Gaudio, L., & Barbui, C. (2017). Common mental disorders in asylum seekers and refugees: Umbrella review of prevalence and intervention studies. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 11, 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-017-0156-0
UNHCR. (2023). Global trends: Forced displacement in 2022. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. https://www.unhcr.org/global-trends
The Group Guide is a directory. Group leaders write their own listings, and we do not vet, supervise, or endorse the groups listed here. We are not a clinic and we do not provide clinical services or guarantee outcomes. That is the group’s work, not ours. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.