A person whose first language or language spoken at home is not one of the official languages of the country they live in.
A university degree awarded after completing an undergraduate program, usually 90 credits.
An association that works to improve the working conditions of its members and defend their rights.
A person or group of people who commits to supporting a sponsored person and any family members who are accompanying them.
Mental health is a person’s level of mental well-being at a given time. This level changes over time based on your experiences, living conditions and the emotions associated with them.... Read more →
A temporary condition associated with winter that is characterized by feeling blue or anxious. The cold, lack of natural light and less time spent outside can all contribute to this.
The feeling of being accepted and recognized as a member of a group, community or society. For immigrants and refugees, this feeling can involve staying connected to your culture or... Read more →
A social services professional authorized to provide psychotherapy, a psychological treatment used to help people understand themselves better and overcome challenges to improve their well-being. Psychotherapists can be doctors, psychologists,... Read more →
Day-to-day behaviours a person practises regularly to maintain or improve their health. Healthy lifestyle habits include diet, sleep, physical activity and other aspects of daily life. These habits affect a... Read more →
The people and resources a person can count on. This includes family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. The quality of a person’s relationships and the availability and variety of forms of... Read more →
Life circumstances characterized by a lack of satisfying or quality social relationships. Social isolation can have a negative impact on your well-being.
A way of being that is based on listening to yourself and being kind to yourself about the emotions you feel and even the difficulties you face. It involves paying... Read more →
A social services professional that supports people in difficulty (family, personal or workplace challenges, etc.) or in precarious situations (violence, poverty, etc.). They can support you and direct you to... Read more →
A health and social services professional that evaluates sexual behaviour and development. Sexologists support individuals and couples experiencing sexual difficulties (sexual disorders, sexual development and sex life, associated psychosocial issues,... Read more →
A social services professional that evaluates your psychological functioning and mental health. Psychologists can provide mental health tips, interventions or treatments (like psychotherapy). For example, they can help you navigate... Read more →
A health professional that prepares and dispenses prescription drugs. Pharmacists can also provide tips on how to use medications properly and prescribe them for minor ailments. For mental health, they... Read more →
A social services professional that can support families experiencing personal or social difficulties. Community counsellors often work at community organizations with a specific mission (help settling in, finding a job,... Read more →
A health professional that evaluates a person’s physical and mental condition. Nurses can administer prescription drugs, vaccines and tests. They can also provide care and treatments and test for some... Read more →
A health professional with medical training who specializes in a specific area of medicine. Like a family doctor, they can prescribe medications and provide diagnoses. For example, psychiatrists are doctors... Read more →
A health professional, also known as a general practitioner, that performs medical examinations, provides diagnoses and treats common issues (infections, minor injuries, etc.). Family doctors monitor chronic illnesses (hypertension, diabetes,... Read more →
A social services professional who provides support to individuals, couples or families facing various challenges. Human relations officers (HROs) can support people experiencing violence, addiction, psychological distress or trouble adjusting... Read more →
A condition characterized by trouble concentrating, staying organized and paying attention. This condition can also involve restlessness and trouble sitting still or following instructions. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often appears in... Read more →
A condition characterized by strong and persistent reactions that occur after direct or indirect exposure to a traumatic event (near-death experience, serious injury, sexual violence, etc.). This condition can cause... Read more →
A condition characterized by persistent and intense sadness, loss of interest and low energy. This condition makes daily activities more difficult (eating, getting up in the morning, interacting with others,... Read more →
A condition characterized by excessive and persistent fear or worry. Anxiety can take the form of physical symptoms (heart racing, cold sweats, trouble breathing, etc.) and affect a person’s daily... Read more →
A condition that can appear in the months following a stressful event (arriving in a new country, losing a loved one or your job, etc.). An adjustment disorder causes distress... Read more →
A mental health condition that affects your thoughts, emotions, behaviours and body. It can make daily life harder and may cause distress. Mental illness is challenging to assess. Health and... Read more →
The ability to cope with intense stress, adapt and grow despite the challenges you face. In an immigration context, it involves taking concrete action like learning a new language, building... Read more →
A normal reaction to a new or important situation (a departure, an exam, etc.). Stress can take the form of tension or worry. Your body goes into high alert to... Read more →
The state or impression of being alone, whether by choice or not. This feeling may be imposed on you, depending on the circumstances and situations you experience. In the context... Read more →
An extreme reaction characterized by suffering and very strong negative emotions (sadness, confusion, despair, anxiety, fatigue, etc.). It can occur after a major unexpected event (for example, the sudden loss... Read more →
An emotional and physical reaction triggered by a future event that is seen as stressful or negative. It can take the form of a racing heart, intrusive thoughts or cold... Read more →
A generally short-lived reaction caused by an unfortunate situation that causes sadness (family dispute, cold Québec winter, etc.). This reaction can make you feel discouraged and lose your energy and... Read more →
A stress (see Stress) and disorientation reaction caused by entering an environment very different than your own. It is caused by a strong sense of upheaval and loss of familiarity when confronted with differences (ways of doing... Read more →
A voluntary, unpaid activity in which people freely give their time, energy and skills to help their community.
A community organization authorized by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) to support government-assisted refugees during their settlement process in Québec (for example, finding housing, opening a bank account, looking... Read more →
People with refugee status under the Geneva Convention (1951). In Canada, refugees have been recommended by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or another country, or have had... Read more →