The Settling Strongly Program comprises six sessions that address themes specific to the recent arrival stage of newcomers’ resettlement, including stress management, settlement goals, and common emotional and self-care concerns. It is also the place where you can build genuine connections with other newcomers.

Everybody goes through complicated situations, especially when we leave our home country and have to start in a new land. Sometimes, we wonder if we can reach our goals or if we have lost them. We can even feel lost in different ways. You might have faced significant adversities that may negatively impact your well-being. Sometimes, we are burdened with situations from our past, the present, or even concerns about our future that stress us out.

What happens when we let all this pile-up? Depressive thoughts, anxiety and other complicated feelings can appear as a result of the hardships that we face.

Self-care is the successful performance of the mental function, resulting in productive activities and fulfilling relationships with other people. It is the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity from early childhood until late life. It is the springboard for thinking and communication skills, learning emotional growth, resilience and self-esteem. It is a state of mind in which a person thinks, feels and acts when facing different life situations.

The Settling Strongly Program presents an opportunity for you as newcomers to improve your well-being, gain accompaniment, and develop skills to deal with stress and frustration, share with others and build community.

Objectives

• Provide newcomers with the tools to better cope with the stressors related to settlement and improve their mental well-being and resilience. The group will have their participants become cohesive and share their experiences of their coping and settlement.
• Teach newcomers about common mild to moderate emotional experiences occurring after resettlement.
• Teach simple and effective coping strategies for these kinds of feelings and reactions.
• Increase understanding of settlement goals by describing common settlement experiences, reactions and challenges.

Program Details

• 6 Weekly Sessions.
• Option of attending separate groups for Women and Men or a mixed group with a maximum of 8 participants per group.
• Group activities where you can share your experiences and interact while developing skills to alleviate stressors and other obstacles to settling in Canada.
• The meetings are at the Saint John Regional Y (191 Churchill Boulevard, Saint John).
• Open to all Permanent and Temporary Residents.
• Ages 18+
• Language level: CLB 4 or above required. (Basic English)

Benefits:

• Certificate
• Take a rest from stress.
• Accompaniment by Professionals.
• Develop skills to deal with stress, frustration, anxiety, and other intense feelings.
• Share with others in a safe place.
• Build community
• Improve Self-awareness