Mental Health Promotion Intervention in Ukrainian and Afghan refugees in Hampden County in Massachusetts

Dr. Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Associate Professor in the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, with co-principal investigator. Dr. Krishna C Poudel, Associate Professor, Department of Health Promotion and Policy, and the Director of Institute of Global Health have been awarded a grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation to replicate their social and emotional wellbeing program among Ukrainian and Afghan adults resettled in Hampden county Massachusetts in collaboration with Ascentria Care Alliance.

The research team’s goal is to reduce stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms and to improve coping skills, self-efficacy, social support, and family well-being in Ukrainian and Afghan refugees resettled in Hampden County by implementing mental health promotion program. The research project is expected to reduce the mental health burden by promoting community strengths and utilizing culturally tailored support that helps them adjust to their new environment and actively engage in community and employment.

The project is funded by a grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. Created in 2001, the mission of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation is to ensure equitable access to health care, for all those in the Commonwealth who are economically, racially, culturally or socially marginalized, through grantmaking and policy initiatives.