In response to the growing mental health needs of immigrant communities, two initiatives at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health are collaborating with the Leah Zallman Center (LZC) to improve access to mental health resources. These efforts aim to address the unique challenges immigrants face in accessing care and provide more effective, culturally responsive mental health services.
A recent policy brief authored by Jennifer Zhang, a health management student at Harvard Chan, sheds light on the structural inequities impacting immigrant mental health. Completed in November, the brief highlights risk factors such as trauma from migration, limited access to healthcare, lack of legal status, and language barriers. It also suggests solutions like expanding insurance eligibility and diversifying the mental health workforce to meet the needs of immigrant populations.
“Immigrants are not a monolithic group, and their mental health needs vary widely depending on their experiences,” said Zhang. “Recognizing these differences is essential to providing effective and culturally relevant care.”
Meanwhile, a new collaboration between Harvard Chan and LZC, part of the “Partnerships for Community Health and Immigrant Well-being” initiative, seeks to strengthen local community partnerships to address mental health challenges. Led by Maggie Sullivan and Jocelyn Chu from Harvard Chan, the initiative will assess existing resources and work with local groups in the greater Boston area to improve mental health services for marginalized immigrant populations.
The program will also offer Harvard Chan students the opportunity to engage in practicum placements at LZC, further connecting academic learning with real-world community needs. The initiative is supported by a donation from the Hughes Holden Foundation.
Jessica Santos, director of LZC, emphasized the importance of the partnership, noting that it comes at a time of uncertainty for immigrant communities. “The next few years will be chaotic and insecure for many immigrants,” she said, “and we are excited to work with Harvard Chan to create more effective solutions that combine research with practical, on-the-ground support.”
Through these efforts, the partnership hopes to make meaningful strides in improving immigrant mental health care and expanding access to culturally sensitive services.
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