JFS staff and lead facilitators Reeta Rana and Durga Giri met weekly with 24 members of the Springfield-area Bhutanese community. Facilitated in Nepali, participants met on Zoom to share their experiences during the pandemic. Covering topics ranging from fostering resiliency to practicing coping techniques, the nine week program provided an important outlet for participants to discuss mental health and find support.The program had 100% attendance and graduation, which speaks to the talent of the facilitators and the need to unpack stress and trauma in the wake of the pandemic. Coordinator Durga Giri was proud of the turnout for the program, and that “finally [participants] were able to share their difficulties and hardship they went through, and share among other participants.”Thank you to HIAS for funding this important program.
Psycho-Social Support Group for Nepali-Speaking Bhutanese Community Helps Foster Connections
