Helping newcomers cope in unsettling times
Increased immigration actions in communities across the country are elevating stress, anxiety, and fear among our newcomer neighbors.
Dr. Suzy Ismail, founding director of Cornerstone Marriage & Family Intervention, witnesses the real impact of these actions on her newcomer clients nationwide.
"This unprecedented level of fear is resulting in very real negative outcomes for many vulnerable populations such as families, children, and elderly living in the U.S. where they sought safe haven and are now terrified of leaving their homes, going to school, picking up food, going to work, or any other type of engagement that would allow them to live an emotionally safe life," she said.
Welcomers can play an important role in supporting newcomers by helping to ease concerns, provide stability, and reduce anxiety. In this new guide, we teamed up with Dr. Suzy who shares simple acts of care and connection that can make a profound difference for families during these challenging times.
5 ways Welcomers can offer care and connection
1. Foster community connection and purpose
When Welcomers and newcomers engage in meaningful ways, it can create belonging and reduce feelings of isolation or anxiety.
What you can do:
- Help newcomers connect—in person or virtually—with others from their home countries to discuss shared experiences. This can provide a sense of community, expand social networks, and improve mental health.
- Provide opportunities for community-based activities with other newcomers, Welcomers, and neighbors. Meeting for local activities, cultural events, or volunteer opportunities help to develop new relationships, build trust, reduce stress, and promote well-being.
Tip from Dr. Suzy: Create a WhatsApp neighborhood group that provides a space for Welcomers and newcomers to informally build connections, consistently check in, share local activities, or discuss neighborhood updates.
2. Focus on what can be controlled
When fear and uncertainty impact daily life, Welcomers can offer a sense of calm and reduce feelings of helplessness by focusing on achievable goals. It’s OK to recognize the uncertainty of a situation while also helping newcomers find ways to regain a sense of control.
What you can do:
- Ask how you and your community can help alleviate additional stress and offer a sense of safety: delivering groceries, providing transportation, and coordinating school dropoff or pickup, for example.
- Be available to accompany newcomers at hearings, legal appointments, or in other situations where additional companionship and support may be helpful.
- Help to develop a family preparedness plan in case of an emergency that includes childcare, Know Your Rights, documentation to carry, and more.
- Offer to help build schedules, daily routines, and attainable goals—like language learning or skill building—that establish consistency and stability.
Tip from Dr. Suzy: Avoid exaggerating a situation or assuming the worst will happen—newcomers have likely experienced, and overcome, great challenges and risks before this moment.
3. Connect to local and trusted resources
By sharing reliable, local information and services, Welcomers can help newcomers access the latest updates in their community, reduce confusion, and build a stronger sense of connection and trust.
What you can do:
- Connect to accurate and specific information in the community that is offered in the newcomer’s language through ethnic and diaspora media or diaspora organizations.
- Find support and resources in your area for mental health, community-based diaspora organizations, basic needs, and more by calling 2-1-1.
- Search Facebook groups or subreddits (for ex., r/philly) dedicated to local immigrant communities that provide trusted, local, and relevant information.
Tip from Dr. Suzy: Mobile devices are often a lifeline for newcomers to connect with family, friends, and trusted resources in their community or at home. Explore social media options that provide trustworthy local connections and resources.
4. Encourage emotional expression
Some cultures or personalities find it more difficult to discuss emotions or mental health. Provide safe spaces to talk and express feelings, whether in person or virtually.
What you can do:
- Instead of asking what a newcomer needs, ask how the person is doing or feeling.
- Ask how the person has coped with difficult moments in their life before and who supported them during that time.
- Offer a personal story or experience that helped you to cope with anxiety or stress, which can open the door to a broader conversation about emotional expression.
Tip from Dr. Suzy: Chatting through messaging apps opens up the opportunity to use emojis, stickers, or photos to express feelings, which can feel more casual and comfortable for people who are less open about their emotions.
5. Model self-care and recharging
Life can be stressful for all of us—regardless of our lived experience. Model simple, healthy ways to weave self-care into everyday life.
What you can do:
- Check in to encourage small practices—like getting enough rest, eating nourishing meals, and moving regularly—that can ease stress.
- Share local activities such as nature walks, prayer groups, or exercise classes that support well-being.
- Suggest using tools that naturally help to express emotions, such as journaling, art, music, or storytelling.
Tip from Dr. Suzy: Communicate consistently to offer newcomers support and stability.
How to start the conversation
It can feel difficult to talk about emotionally charged topics. Dr. Suzy offers ways to have these hard conversations.
- Showing up imperfectly is better than not showing up at all. Avoiding hard conversations ensures comfort. Confronting them invites growth. Which do you value more?
- Define key terms being discussed in the hard conversation. Often our conflicts are fueled by miscommunication more than anything else. Establish common ground by making sure that you and the newcomers you’re speaking with are clarifying ambiguous language. These discussions may benefit from the use of translation technology (e.g., Google Translate) or live interpretation (e.g., through a mutual friend or a service like Tarjimly).
- Replace judgement with curiosity. Curiosity provides room for a conversation. Instead of rushing to make your point, urge for more clarification. Replace rebuttals with: “I want to fully understand. Can you explain that to me a bit more?”
- Allow room for silence. Even if it is uncomfortable, silence to process is better than speaking just to speak. This also gives the other person the opportunity to fully finish their thought.
Connect with Cornerstone
Cornerstone Marriage & Family Intervention offers spiritually and culturally attuned care that supports a person's whole well-being. Learn more about in-person and virtual sessions offered near you.
