Entering another cultural universe is not an easy task and, depending on the social context, can be facilitated or hindered. Intercultural encounters present profound subjective challenges, and our way of being, thinking, social norms, habits, family and work relationships, and concepts of health are put to the test. 

This  project focuses on the promotion and prevention of mental health for people living between cultural borders, such as immigrants, descendants of immigrants, people in refugee situations, Indigenous people, and returnees. The project has a team in tune with the cultural issues involved in the displacement process. While providing a service, we also work on deepening the understanding of the migration phenomenon.

Intercultural psychosocial assistance is provided through online and/or in-person meetings at the General and Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic (AMGF) of the preventive medicine department at UNIFESP. The services can be conducted in Portuguese, Spanish, French, and English.

The Assistance program is a sub-project of the Extension project “Interculturality and Care in E/I-Migration,” code 16050, approved by the extension council of the Paulista School of Medicine and the Extension Dean's Office of the Federal University of São Paulo. This project continues the work of Intercultural Guidance projects previously developed at the University of São Paulo and at the Baixada Santista campus of UNIFESP.

We are continuously building and expanding an articulated network of services and actions for mental health, social assistance, and other rights of the migrant population, such as primary health care units, CAPS (Psychosocial Care Centers), hospitals, shelters, civil organizations, public defenders' offices, and NGOs. We receive requests on a regular basis through referrals and spontaneous requests from migrants via our website, institutional email address, and WhatsApp.

Support services

• Individual focused counseling

• Couple and family counseling

• Workshops and group sessions

• International student group

• Intersectoral network work

• Consulting and advisory services for public institutions and NGOs

 CONTACT:

email: intercultural@unifesp.br

cell phone: (11) 99179-1699 

TEAM: 

https://medicina-preventiva.unifesp.br/extens%C3%A3o/projetos/acolhimento-psicossocial-intercultural