Maintaining Mental Wellbeing and Resilience of Sanctuary Seekers

This awareness raising event is part of the Refugee Week (15-21 June) celebrations and have been organised by the Preston City of Sanctuary (PCoS) group. The City of Sanctuary Trustee Jeff Morgan will be the key speaker to present the importance of supporting the mental health needs of Refugees and Asylum Seekers with a focus on how these traumatic experiences have impacted on their mental wellbeing. Jeff will also present specialist and scientific recommendations to overcome the mental health issues faced by individuals who faced challenges such as the hostile environment, impact of COVID-19 on the forced migrant’s community. Current evidence suggests that individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds have been hit harder by this pandemic. This talk will include lived experience testimonials from guest speakers who will share their past journeys, give examples of resilience and also explain how COVID-19 has impacted on their lives. Discussion, questions and answers will follow.

To Join us: You will receive an email few days before the event with link and password to join the event.

Programme:

6.00 pm - Welcome by host Suely Ludgero-Newlove

6.05-6.20 - Mental Health talk - Part 1 by Jeff Morgan

6.20-7.00 - Break out rooms - Living experiences

Room 1 – Speaker: Ghassan Mahadi (Sudan) – Challenges with Home Office - Room Leader: Andrew Pratt

Room 2 – Speaker: Chrysantus Nchotie Tankeh (Cameroon) – Lessons of Resilience - Room Leader: Dawn Judd

Room 3 – Rafiya Sherin Kunnummal (India) – UCLan International student experiences during COVID-19 Lockdown Room Leader: Cllr Naweeda Khan

7.00-7.15 - Mental Health talk - Part 2 by Jeff Morgan

7.15-7.25 - Other initiatives PCoS partnerships - Dawn Judd and Laura Walker UCLan

7.25-7.55 - Q&A and Discussion

7.55-8.00 – Closing remarks by host Suely Ludgero-Newlove – End

#RefugeeWeek2020 #Imagine #SimpleActs

Jeff Morgan’s Bio:

Jeff has worked with sanctuary seekers since 2006 when he trained with Freedom from Torture. He helped develop counselling facilities and training programmes for those seeking protection in Manchester, Salford, London, Hull and Birmingham. He also tutors at REACHE, an educational project based in Salford Royal Hospital, specifically designed for refugees who were doctors in their homelands and now wish to continue their profession in the UK.

Jeff’s background is in Occupational Medicine and Mental Health. Before retirement he worked as “company doctor” to a wide variety of industrial, commercial & service organisations in the public, private and third sectors. For several years he was also a psychiatrist in rural Gwynedd, establishing a therapeutic community in an attractive seaside location where survivors of trauma could experience intensive counselling in a relaxed & supportive setting.

Jeff is a trustee on City of Sanctuary's national board and the Regional Coordinator for the North West region. He was closely involved in the development of the Health Stream and in the production of the Mental Health Resource Pack.