Strengthening Workplace Readiness for Newcomer Women through Wellness
By Zaineb Nizami, Wellbeing Counsellor, Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services, Toronto, Ontario

Quick Facts

Population of interest:
Racialized newcomer women in the Achev employment programs.

Location:
Toronto, Ontario

The need:
Mental health challenges can significantly hinder job readiness and career growth. Anxiety, self-doubt, and feelings of being overwhelmed can negatively affect interview performance, training participation, and overall confidence. A lack of self-esteem can further perpetuate a cycle of unreadiness, increasing stress and making job attainment even more difficult.

Statistics reflect these barriers: In 2016, Canada’s overall unemployment rate was 7.7%, with immigrants experiencing similar rates. However, unemployment among racialized populations was higher at 9.2%, and those without a high school diploma faced the greatest difficulty. Notably, recent immigrants (2011–2016) with doctorates were 3.5 times more likely to be unemployed than non-immigrants with the same qualifications.

Addressing both employment challenges and mental health support is essential in fostering job market success for newcomers and racialized communities.

Mental health exists on a continuum, (see image below) and without proper support, mild to moderate struggles can lead to a more severe condition.

Newcomer women often face unique stressors, which place them in the mild to moderate range, making early intervention essential.

The Career Success for Racialized Newcomer Women (CSRNW) program at Achev supported highly skilled newcomer women in navigating the Canadian labor market. As part of this initiative, Polycultural’s Wellbeing Counsellor partnered with Achev to deliver Mental Wellness Sessions, addressing the emotional challenges of job searching and professional integration.

Since 2022, Polycultural has been delivering these workshops online. There have been 21 cohorts, with six sessions facilitated by the current counsellor, Zaineb Nizami. Zaineb who has a Bachelor of Arts, in Psychology and a Postgraduate Certificate in Addictions and Mental Health, works from a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approach.

Topics addressed during the workshops included: stress management, self-care, and self-soothing techniques, including mindfulness meditation, grounding exercises, and positive affirmations to promote resilience and empowerment.

This collaboration provided essential mental health support, equipping participants with coping strategies to enhance their well-being and confidence in their career journeys.

Outcomes

The mental wellness sessions for highly skilled racialized newcomer women emphasized self-care and self-soothing as essential strategies to prevent stress from escalating into distress. Participants learned to view stress as a tool for redirection, focusing on their needs rather than allowing it to become overwhelming.

The training provided practical steps for stress management, encouraging participants to develop personalized self-care plans. Many found the sessions transformative, reporting a shift in perspective on stress and recognizing their ability to manage it. Some attendees sought further counselling, while others noted reduction in stress after implementing self-care practices.

By equipping participants with concrete tools, the sessions fostered resilience and empowered women to take control of their mental well-being.

Key takeaways

Mental health significantly influences physical well-being, spirituality, and financial stability, underscoring its vital role in overall quality of life.

Physical health: Mental distress can trigger symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, insomnia, digestive issues, and difficulty concentrating. Left unchecked, these can escalate into more severe conditions like cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and gastrointestinal disorders.

Spiritual well-being: A person’s mental state shapes their spirituality—the beliefs, values, and principles that provide meaning and direction. Struggles with mental health can diminish self-awareness, gratitude, and compassion, making it harder to maintain a sense of purpose and balance.

Financial stability: Mental health challenges can hinder productivity, focus, and sound financial decision-making. Anxiety and depression may lead to difficulties with budgeting, maintaining employment, or managing stress, often creating a cycle where financial strain further exacerbates mental distress.

Mental well-being is essential for success, affecting focus, motivation, and confidence. Programs like CSRNW support this by equipping racialized newcomer women with stress management tools. Polycultural was grateful to partner with Achev in delivering these empowering mental wellness sessions.

References

Robert, A. M., & Gilkinson, T. (2012, November). Mental health and well-being of recent immigrants in Canada. https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/pdf/research-stats/mental-health.pdf

Tomasso, L. di, Thompson, L., Varga, B., Ashraf, A., McKenzie, K., & Tuck, A. (2019, February). Immigrant, refugee, ethnocultural and racialized populations and the social determinants of health. Mentalhealthcommission. https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/wp-content/uploads/drupal/2019-03/irer_report_mar_2019_eng.pdf