People of immigrant and refugee background sharing experiences of mental health recovery: reflections and recommendations on using digital storytelling

Abstract

Ten individuals of immigrant or refugee background, who had experienced mental health or emotional issues, participated in an immersive workshop to create digital stories as part of a national multicultural mental health initiative. Known collectively as ‘Finding our way’, the stories combine the power of first-person narrative with digital technologies. Three years on, six workshop participants and two coordinators reflect on the project’s effects, and offer recommendations for conducting and evaluating similar projects in the future. Individuals experienced the project as personally empowering. The stories have been used to facilitate community and service-based conversations about diversity, mental health and recovery.