About Us

About Here & Well

As part of the 2022–2026 Interministerial Action Plan on Mental Health [in French], the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) and the Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux tasked the Centre d’expertise sur le bien-être et l’état de santé physique des réfugiés et des demandeurs d’asile (CERDA) and the SHERPA University Institute with creating a mental health information toolkit for immigrants and refugees.

Here & Well is intended to support the well-being of people who are new to or about to arrive in Québec. It aims to inform immigrants and refugees and ensure they are aware of the challenges they may face throughout the immigration process, as well as the associated mental health challenges. Here & Well is also intended to serve as a reference and support tool for counsellors from various sectors who support immigrants and refugees.

It was developed based on a literature review and in collaboration with professionals, counsellors and people from diverse backgrounds who have themselves recently arrived in Québec.

For any questions about Here & Well, we invite you to contact our team at cerda.ccomtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca.

About the CERDA and the SHERPA University Institute

The CERDA and the SHERPA University Institute are part of the Direction of Learning Partnerships and Knowledge Activation at the CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal.

The CERDA supports concerted efforts in the health and social services network to help refugees and refugee claimants settle in Québec. Part of the CERDA’s mission is to support the 11 CISSS and CIUSSS tasked by the MSSS with performing physical health and wellness assessments for newly arrived refugees. It also advises the MSSS and helps promote Québec’s expertise provincially, nationally and internationally.

For more information: CERDA [in French]

The SHERPA University Institute conducts research, assessment and knowledge transfer activities to support the development of knowledge and best practices in front-line intervention in a multi-ethnic context. Its designation as a university institute specializing in immigration and intercultural intervention makes it a key player in Québec’s health and social services network.

For more information: SHERPA University Institute

Bibliography

Complete bibliography of Here & Well 

Credits

In alphabetical order

  • Project team: Mehdi Azri (Research and Knowledge Mobilization Advisor), Laura Bourjolly (Project Manager), Fèmy Fagla (Research and Knowledge Mobilization Advisor), Alexi Vicken Kayayan Alvarado (Research and Knowledge Mobilization Advisor), Odile Lanctôt-David (Research and Knowledge Mobilization Advisor), Jean-Charles St-Louis (Project Manager), Mélanie M. Gagnon (Director – Knowledge Transfer), Andréanne Guindon (Director – Program Administration)
  • Revision in French: Si Poirier
  • Translation: Julia Jones
  • Graphic Design: Julie Brière (https://www.behance.net/JBBOX) Marie-Anne C. Duplessis (ouiflo créatives https://www.ouiflo.ca/) 
  • Web Design: Myriam-Zaa Normandin ([ZAA.CC] Design web http://www.zaa.cc)
  • Translation of summaries : Marwa Elsaadany, Ronak Karami, Solange Maloney

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the members of the advisory committee who helped with the different stages of this project (in alphabetical order). 

  • Ricardo Barahona 
  • Jordane Beaudet (Université Laval)
  • Audrey Bergeron (CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS)
  • Eric Gustave Bizimana
  • Natacha Bherer (Comité régional d’éducation pour le développement international de Lanaudière)
  • Marie-Jeanne Blain (Université de Montréal, Centre de recherche et de partage des savoirs InterActions)
  • Ninon Capon
  • Joyvin Dias
  • Benjamin Gallais (Cégep de Jonquière)
  • Marie-Thérèse Garruto (HEC Montréal)
  • Maria Cristina Gonzalez (Université de Montréal)
  • Alexandra Hejazi 
  • Francis Komedza (Solidarité ethnique régionale de la Yamaska)
  • Véronique Lussier (CISSS des Laurentides)
  • Myriane Marie-Louise (CIUSSS-Capitale-Nationale)
  • Florie Merveille Ngassam Seuwa
  • Clothilde Parent-Chartier (Université d’Ottawa)
  • Stephan Reichhold (Table de concertation des organismes au service des personnes réfugiées et immigrantes)
  • Myriam Richard (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières)
  • Élisabeth Robichaud (La Mosaïque interculturelle)
  • Abelardo Salita (Association de proches des personnes atteintes de maladie mentale de l’Estrie)
  • Alexandra Sanchez (CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale)
  • Nadia Susel (CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal)
  • Simon Turcotte (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières)
  • Naïma Warit (Service d’Aide aux Néo-Canadiens)
  • Sanja Stipancevic (Service d’Aide aux Néo-Canadiens)

We would also like to thank the following people for their participation in the final phase of revisions and adjustments to the project:

  • Andréanne Boisjoli (IU SHERPA)
  • Ashley Chu (CERDA/IU SHERPA)
  • Samuel Duchesne (CERDA/IU SHERPA)
  • Anaïs El Amraoui (IU SHERPA)
  • Jonathan Ferrero (Émersion | Service-conseil en emploi)
  • Maria Christina Gonzalez (Université de Montréal)
  • Maritza Guillen (MIFI)
  • Alexia Hammal (MIFI)
  • Eurêka Kapambu 
  • Solange Valérie Kouamo (ABL Immigration)
  • Reine Victoire Kamyap (MIFI)
  • Emma Le Lain (CERDA)
  • Sandra Nadeau (MIFI)
  • Robbie Paul (L’Orienthèque)
  • Irina Alexandra Sanchez (CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre)
  • Fanica Velciu (Alliance pour l’accueil et l’intégration des immigrants)

Special thanks to Virginie Lubino for her significant contribution to the project’s early development during her time at CERDA.

Furthermore, we wish to acknowledge the contributions of the MSSS and the MIFI, and to thank the following people for their guidance and careful reviews:

  • Ilhem Bouzida (MIFI)
  • Geneviève Lessard (MSSS)
  • Émilie Mogno (MSSS)
  • Halima Mostefaoui (MIFI)
  • Hamida Mukarurangwa (MIFI)
  • Wanda Trevil  (MSSS)

Finally, we would like to thank the MIFI and the MSSS for their financial support to develop this project.

Reproduction Rights

This website may be reproduced in whole or in part for personal, non-commercial use, provided the source is cited.

Azri, M., Bourjolly, L., Fagla, F., Kayayan Alvarado, A. V., Lanctôt-David, O., St-Louis, J-C., Gagnon, M. M. et Guindon, A. (2026). Here & Well. SHERPA University Institute and Centre d’expertise sur le bien-être et l’état de santé physique des réfugiés et des demandeurs d’asile. CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal. https://infobienetre.ca/

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