This project has hosted webinars since 2012 to promote learning, information sharing and to stimulate conversation on topics that we hope are relevant to your practice. Many of the archived webinars are part of the former project, the Refugee Mental Health Project. Since September 2017, webinars have encompassed the expanded scope of newly-arrived immigrants and/or refugees.
Our webinars are one-hour sessions that include a 30-minute presentation by professionals in the settlement, social or health services sectors followed by a 30-minute question and answer session where we encourage you to ask questions, pose scenarios and to generally discuss your practice with these experts in the field.
Upcoming webinars
Workplace stress and mental health in the settlement sector
With Irma Molina, PhD (Lead, Peer Program Evaluation Project, Canadian Mental Health Association), Reuben Hodari Clarke (Chair, Health and Mental Health Working Group, Toronto South West Local Immigration Partnership), and Nadia Umadat, RSW (Manager, Toronto South West Local Immigration Partnership).
Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 1:30 – 2:45 p.m. EST
Description:
Workplace stress and mental health challenges among Canadian settlement service providers have intensified, particularly in the aftermath of COVID-19, significantly impacting employee well-being. Despite the sector's critical role in integrating immigrants and refugees amid unprecedented migration, limited research exists on these issues. To address this gap, the Canadian Mental Health Association (Toronto branch), in collaboration with Toronto South West Local Immigration, conducted an online survey of settlement sector employees.
At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Gain an understanding of the extent of workplace stress and burnout among settlement sector employees in Toronto, based on survey findings.
- Understand the key factors contributing to stress and burnout as well as the factors, which positively impact employee mental health.
- Learn about employee-recommended changes to improve mental health in the workplace.
Irma Molina, PhD leads qualitative research at the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), bringing extensive expertise in participatory methodologies and critical research ethics.
She holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Toronto and has led comprehensive qualitative research initiatives across multiple projects and institutions.
With over a decade of experience, Irma’s work is anchored in ethical frameworks that prioritize the protection, agency, and self-determination of vulnerable populations. Her ethics review experience includes the areas of precarious status, undocumented, immigrant, racialized, unhoused, and neurodivergent populations. Irma is also a dedicated mentor focused on fostering the growth and professional development of fellow researchers.
Reuben Hodari Clarke is Chair, Health and Mental Health Working Group, Toronto South West Local Immigration Partnership
Reuben has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social and Political Thought. His work focuses on anti-racism, reconciliation, and community wellness. Creatively, he’s building an interactive musical story series imagining abolitionist futures through rhythm, rhyme, and ancestral harmony. Highlights include producing Water is Alive for Project EarthDiver (imagineNATIVE 2023) and coordinating the Imani Mentorship Program at University of Toronto, Scarborough, advancing mentorship and support for Black students.
Nadia Umadat, RSW is the Manager of Toronto South West Local Immigration Partnership and is a registered social worker and author. Through the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture, she manages the Toronto South West Local Immigration Partnership, a project focused on creating welcoming communities for newcomers. She has a Master’s Degree in Social Work and a Graduate Diploma in Refugee and Migration Studies from York University. Until 2021, Nadia was a Youth Mental Health Counsellor, primarily supporting refugee families who had lived experiences of war, torture, crimes against humanity and genocide. Nadia is an alumna of the Leading Social Justice Collective through the University of Toronto's School of Cities and serves on the Board of Directors for Scarborough Community Legal Services.
Webinar recordings
Now online:
Description
Economic abuse is a form of control that limits a survivor’s financial independence and self-sufficiency, creating significant barriers to safety and recovery.
Join Nichola Williams and Lauren Parcher from the Canadian Center for Women’s Empowerment (CCFWE) to explore the tactics of economic abuse, its intersection with other forms of abuse, and the short- and long-term impacts on survivors.
Participants will also learn about specific challenges faced by newcomer survivors, best practices for supporting survivors, and practical tools such as safety planning and screening for economic abuse.
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:
- Define economic abuse and identify its various forms, including economic control, exploitation, and employment/education sabotage.
- Recognize the systemic barriers that prevent survivors—especially newcomer women—from achieving financial security and independence.
- Apply trauma-informed and survivor-centred approaches to supporting survivors experiencing economic abuse.
- Identify where to access relevant resources and supports for survivors of economic abuse.
February 19, 2025
Description:
Join us for an engaging and action-oriented webinar exploring how United Way Greater Toronto is driving equitable outcomes—both internally and across the sector.
This webinar offers the following:
- Concrete examples of an organizational approach to advancing equity
- Strategies for collaborative work across partner organizations and stakeholders/rightsholder to drive equitable outcomes
- Approaches to develop accountability measurements through key performance indicators
In honor of Black History Month, the session will feature Black-focused initiatives.
Archive:
Note that webinar recordings contain the presentation of the topic only; the question and answer session is not recorded.
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Specific populations and issues
These webinars highlight strategies for supporting particular immigrant and refugee groups, or highlight specific issues in supporting immigrant and refugee mental health. -
Support and treatment considerations
These webinars will focus on specific considerations for providing effective treatment to recent immigrants and refugees. -
Successful or promising practices
These webinars outline innovative and unique approaches/programs for supporting the mental health of newly-arrived immigrants and refugees.
