Immigration Resources: Mental health help for those impacted

The onslaught of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across Southern California has a significant toll on the mental health of children and families. 

Families may be living in fear or have their lives uprooted by an ICE detainment, and those most impacted may not be able to afford the mental health resources they need to healthily cope during this time. Los Angeles and Long Beach-based groups and businesses are offering a variety of mental health resources, some free or low-cost, some in-person or virtual. 

The Relational Center

This Los Angeles-based nonprofit offers affordable counseling for California residents, and is compiling a spreadsheet of therapists offering free sessions to those directly impacted by ICE raids and protests. The spreadsheet is in the link in the bio of @relationalcenter on Instagram. 

Immigrants Rising 

Undocumented students in California can receive free, confidential psychological support from Immigrants Rising, an arm of the Los Angeles Trade Technical College. There is a QR code to register at @lattcdrd on Instagram. For more information contact their Mental Health Senior Manager Mayra Barragan-O’Brien at mbarraganobrien@immigrantsrising.org. 

Youth Group Therapy 

The Los Angeles County Health Department has a virtual Long Beach Child and Adolescent Support Group every Wednesday in June from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. This group is led by licensed health professionals and is private and free. No sign-ins or personal information is required. They will be culturally sensitive and trauma-informed, offered both in English and Spanish. 

For a link, contact kmolina@dmh.lacounty.gov or Stalvarez@dmh.lacounty.gov. 

Empatía Counseling Services – 4401 Atlantic Ave. 

This Signal Hill-based business is offering a few spots for bro bono comprehensive, culturally-informed mental health evaluations. They also offer low-cost counseling and payment plans. Evaluations consist of two 90-minute sessions and a detailed 10+ page report. 

They can be contacted at 562-984-2031 or via email admin@empatiacounseling.com. 

Do you know of a mental health resource for those impacted by ICE raids that we should add to this list? Let us know in the comments or by emailing Newspaper@SignalTribune.com.