Priya Nair

As an Indian who grew up in Japan and then returned to her home country as a foreigner, Priya grew up oscillating between different worlds. Passionate about bringing these worlds and the people in them closer together, Priya aspires to build community and bridge social inequity. She graduated from McGill University with a joint honors in History and Middle East Studies and developed an interest in narratives, conflicts, and representation through media and education. In the future, Priya hopes to work towards conflict prevention and resolution through an interdisciplinary approach.

Partners: SCSC (under the Common Threads Project) and Médecins sans Frontières Urban Spaces

Policy Brief: Addressing the Mental Health Impact of Forced Migration + Infographic – Welcome Hive

Final Report: The Post-Migration Mental Health of Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Quebec

The objective of this report is to synthesize existing literature and draw on first-hand testimony to analyze the impact of forced migration on mental health as experienced in a post-migratory context in Quebec. Four areas are identified as key determinants of post-migration mental health: legal processes, detention, integration challenges, and social connectedness/isolation. The report concludes with a discussion of the implications for policy and practice. Recommendations put forward address providing alternatives to detention and introducing community-based informal mental health interventions that build social connectedness, while offering practical support.

Keywords: refugees, asylum seekers, Quebec, Canada, mental health, social connectedness, social isolation, detention, family reunification, integration challenges

Oral History Series
In addition to the final report, Priya conducted an oral history series titled “What We Leave Behind.” Comprising of the personal narratives of those who were forced to flee their countries, “What We Leave Behind” seeks to paint a picture of the lives that people had built before they were forced to flee their countries. View below one of the videos from the playlist:

Community Engagement Initiative: Welcome Hive