# Immigrant Mental Health: From Theory to Action Semester: Fall | Year offered: 2026 ### **Course Description** This course uses a public health lens to examine immigrant mental health and well-being, with a focus on immigration status and policy as structural determinants of health. Drawing on current research and the Greater Boston landscape review, participants will explore how clinical systems, community-based organizations, and informal networks each contribute to (and fall short in) supporting immigrant communities. The course will highlight strengths-based, community-rooted, and immigration-informed models of care, including youth-focused and arts- and culture-based approaches. Through case examples and applied exercises, participants will identify gaps in the current system and develop actionable, multi-level strategies that bridge clinical and community care while centering immigrant knowledge, leadership, and resilience. *This course is open to all Harvard students and affiliates interested in immigrant mental health, public health, health equity, clinical and community-based care, health policy, advocacy, or immigrant-serving work.* ### **Course Objectives** By the end of the course, students will be able to: 1. Apply a public health approach to understand and address immigrant mental health and wellbeing. 2. Identify clinical and community gaps in mental healthcare delivery to immigrant communities. 3. Describe public health-driven and community-rooted approaches to addressing immigrant mental health and well-being. 4. Discuss what the mental healthcare system can learn from and adapt from immigrant communities. ### **Class Schedule** **Time:** 2:00-5:00 p.m. EST **Dates:** - Friday October 30, 2026 - Friday November 6, 2026 - Friday November 13, 2026 **Classroom:** Countway L1-024 Classroom ### **Milestone Credit** *In order to receive Milestone Credit, students must:* - *Attend all 3 sessions* - *submit the final assignment (class presentation during the last session)* This nanocourse is open to all Harvard University students. Eligible Harvard Medical School (HMS) students may also receive academic credit for participation. Milestone credit details are found [here](https://curriculumfellows.hms.harvard.edu/nanocourses). ### **Course Team** **Maggie Sullivan** Instructor and Director of the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights Program on Immigrants and Unhoused Communities Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Email: **Jocelyn Chu** Director of Community Engaged Learning Instructor in the Office of Education Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Email: ### **Course Support** **Nour Hammad** PhD candidate in Population Health Sciences Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Email: **Luke Testa** Senior Program Coordinator Harvard Global Health Institute Email: [luke\_testa@harvard.edu](mailto:luke_testa@harvard.edu) ### **Registration & deadline:** Register [here](). Deadline: Friday October 23, 2026. Student number limit: 30 students. If over-subscribed, registration priority will be given to HMS PhD students taking the course for credit. You will receive an email confirming your enrollment. If the course is full, you will be placed on a waitlist and notified by email. *Students requiring accommodations should contact the* [*Disability Access Office*](https://dao.fas.harvard.edu/) *upon admission to the nanocourse. Please provide the course name, instructor’s name and email, and course dates to ensure timely communication of accommodations.* See also:- [ Upcoming ](/class-categories/upcoming)