Recap: Addressing the Challenges in Mental Health Services for Afghan Refugees
On September 18, 2024, we concluded an insightful and powerful discussion on the pressing challenges in mental health services for Afghan refugees. The discussion was led by our expert panelists, Dr. Marius Koga, MD, MPH, FRSPH, Director of the Ulysses Refugee Health Research Program at UC Davis School of Medicine, and Ms. Sima Naderi MPH, MSc, who is currently pursuing her PhD at the UCSF Institute for Global Health Sciences. They shared their knowledge of the unique trauma experienced by Afghan refugees and the strategies needed to enhance access to culturally tailored mental health resources for this community. The event drew a diverse group of over 80 attendees dedicated to improving mental health services for Afghan refugees, fostering an environment of shared learning and capacity-building.
We are excited to share a wonderful testimonial from an attendee, who highlighted the impact and necessity of this discussion:
“I wanted to share how much I valued the ‘Challenges in Mental Health Services for Afghan Refugees’ session last week. I’ve been doing this work for over 6 years and that was the most informative webinar I have seen, particularly since it was led by those from within the community who understand the nuances and cultural lens. I have sent it to our entire staff to review and hope to share it with all new hires as well.”
For those who missed the webinar or wish to revisit the discussion, we have several resources available:
We extend our gratitude to our speakers and all participants for their commitment to advancing mental health support for Afghan refugees. If you have any follow-up questions, please reach out to Dr. Koga at pmkoga@ucdavis.edu or Ms. Naderi at sima.naderi@ucsf.edu.
Thank you for your dedication to supporting refugee mental health!