How can mental health support be made accessible to everyone, including people with a migration background?
With this question in mind, Migration Inc. recently delivered a Cultural Sensitivity Training for staff members of the MIND Hulplijn. The training was facilitated by Yordi Lassooy-Tekle, in collaboration with professional role-play actor Gilberto Silas, and focused on strengthening culturally sensitive communication and improving professionals’ ability to connect with the lived experiences of people with a migration background.
The training explored key themes such as the impact of culture, migration, trauma, language, and trust on help-seeking behaviour and mental health support. Participants also reflected on how norms, values, family dynamics, and migration experiences can influence the way people experience psychological distress, discuss mental health concerns, and seek support.
Through practical examples, interactive exercises, reflection, and role-play scenarios, participants gained concrete tools to better recognize signals, conduct effective conversations, and act with greater confidence in culturally diverse situations. The involvement of role-play actor Gilberto Silas enabled participants to practice realistic scenarios and receive immediate feedback.
Initial evaluations show that the training was received very positively. Participants particularly appreciated the combination of theory and practice, the interactive learning methods, and the role-play exercises. The training was described as practical, well-structured, and directly applicable to everyday professional practice.
We look back on this collaboration with great appreciation and would like to thank the staff of the MIND Hulplijn for their active participation, openness, and engagement. Together, we are working towards a society in which mental health support is accessible to everyone and where professionals have the knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively to the diversity of the people they support.
