Fostering mental health in the community - participatory interventions designed by and for undocumented women - Abstract 92

Sep 30, 2026

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Undocumented migrants, particularly women, face elevated risk of poor mental health intensified by healthcare access barriers and systemic inequalities. Evidence for tailored interventions remains limited, especially within high-income urban settings. This project documents how participatory approaches can strengthen migrants’ engagement in wellbeing and mental health promotion alongside social integration. Culturally informed psychosocial interventions aim to convert challenges into opportunities for improved mental health and community integration.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

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Aims

Methods

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Conclusions

2nd World Congress on Migration, Ethnicity, Race & Health Abstract Book vi89 Abstract citation ID: ckaf180.244 92 Fostering mental health in the community: participatory interventions designed by and for undocumented women in Geneva, Switzerland Ilaria Bologna1, Fiona Bajaj1, Yves-Laurent Jackson1,2 1Division of primary care medicine, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland 2University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland PTH 3: Mental Health and Refugees 1, B307 (FCSH), September 3, 2025, 17:00-17:54 Aims: Undocumented migrants, particularly women, are at high risk of poor mental health exacerbated by barriers to healthcare and systemic inequalities. Evidence on tailored interventions to mitigate these risks is lacking, especially in high-income urban contexts. This project aims to document how participatory approaches can drive migrants’ engagement in wellbeing and mental health promotion along with social integration. Through culturally informed psychosocial interventions, the project seeks to transform these challenges into opportunities for better mental health and community integration. Methods: Grounded in a long-standing collaboration between Geneva University Hospital, non-governmental organisations and migrant communities, the methodology actively involves undocumented women in the design and implementation of group interventions. Participants are accompanied by an interprofessional health team to define their priority health needs (first phase), and the strategies to best respond to them from a context-specific perspective (second phase) . Monitoring and evaluation embedded in the participatory approach promote a dynamic quality improvement process. Inspired by successful models like community therapy, it emphasises shared leadership, skills and knowledge that migrant women bring to the process through participation in socio-cultural activities. Results: In the first phase of the project (August 2024-February 2025), 41 middle-aged (range 19 to 67) women from 13 Latin American countries, mainly employed in the informal domestic sector, participated in 13 group sessions. Priority health themes included perimenopausal distress, occupational health and emotional wellbeing. They developed a roadmap to harness resources within the healthcare system and the community, and participated in social and cultural activities to strengthen peer-support and better integrate local community life. Further results of this first phase evaluation will be shared at the GSMHER congress. Conclusions: Putting undocumented women at the heart of participatory psychosocial interventions, this project underscores how vulnerable migrants, when supported by inclusive practices, can drive the development of healthier and better integrated communities.

FAQs

What is the main goal of the project described in the abstract?

To document how participatory approaches can increase undocumented migrants’ engagement in wellbeing and mental health promotion while supporting social integration through culturally informed psychosocial interventions.

How are undocumented women involved in the intervention design and implementation?

Participants are actively involved in designing and implementing group interventions, supported by an interprofessional health team to define priority health needs and co-develop context-specific strategies.

What were the key results from the first phase of the project?

In the first phase (Aug 2024–Feb 2025), 41 middle-aged women from 13 Latin American countries attended 13 group sessions, developed a roadmap to leverage healthcare and community resources, and participated in social and cultural activities to strengthen peer support.

Sep 30, 2026

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