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Watching the Paloma short documentary was heart breaking. I felt my stomach turn when the young lady, Najma, said that she doesnt feel she is seen as an individual but always as a somali girl or the one with the scarf. Both the short documentary and episode 1 made me think that we always, no matter what, need to be friendly and kind to everyone we come by in our lives. No exceptiond and no excuses.

Episode 1 of Paloma taught me that refugees start everything from zero when coming to their new home country, including their well-being. 5

Looking into the social identity wheel, questions number 4 & 5 really got to me: Identities that have the strongest effect on how you perceive yourself and how others perceive you. This is something that I "battle" with a lot, and interestingly enough the identity factors are the same but I feel they are looked at from opposite directions whether the one looking is me or someone else. The two factors are age and gender. I feel like everybody puts down a 29-year old female. And I also dont feel it will get any easier in the future - being a 50-year old female sounds just as frustrating. I feel that if you are a woman of any age you will get critized, made fun of and frowned upon no matter what you do.

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As a tool that helps in exploring and understanding our social identities, the social identity wheel is a valuable tool in the education sector because it aids in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Educators can use it for:

-self-reflection

-encouraging empathy

-addressing stereotypes and biases, -curriculum development

-creating inclusive classroom practices, among others.

By using this tool, educators can foster a more inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students.

As a teacher, this tool equips me with the methodology to use in helping students understand and appreciate not only their social groups but embrace others as well. It creates awareness on how these different identities intersect and influence the learners’ experiences and perspectives.

The testimonies of immigrants have provided valuable insights into the experiences of individuals who have migrated to a new country.

The mental health of refugees is a critical issue that requires attention and support.

In the issue of understanding the challenges faced by refugees and providing appropriate mental health services, trauma-informed care, and opportunities for integration and social support, I feel like Finland is trying to contribute to the well-being and successful integration of refugees.

Change, both positive and negative come with new challenges and this is not different from the experiences of the immigrants who have shared their experiences.

The Paloma training videos show how, even if it’s a bit challenging at first, the immigrants finally find their wings to fly.

I also noticed from their facial expressions, how some of them end the interview with a smile of “liberty”. I use the word liberty because there is a sense of relief at the end.

It was an eye opening lesson for me because sometimes we take the very important things for granted.

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The Paloma short documentary featuring testimonials of Finnish former refugees, was highly interesting, touching and eyes opening. The words that came into my mind after watching it were strength, determination, and resilience. I am truly impressed by those persons who have navigated moments of profound solitude, identity crises, and powerlessness in the face of tragedies in their home countries and simultaneously have managed to fulfil parental roles, secure employment, assimilate into a different culture and even master a complex language for some to facilitate integration. Their stories serve as a source of hope and motivation for migrants and beyond, advocating for their strength and optimism as a model for overcoming challenges. I regret that the PALOMA training materials (except the videos) are only available in Finnish, translating the material into English might take time and a lot of efforts but I believe it would broaden its impact, as people who wants to voluntary work for this theme might not only be Finnish speakers.

I shift my attention to the second video, reflecting on the mental health and wellbeing of refugees. This empower the need of an appropriate environment for those people who are dealing with a lot of stress leading to many psychological consequences. It made me reflect on French communes hosting asylum seekers and helping them, by actively engage them in local activities, providing a supportive and vibrant environment for successful integration. Those communes offer safe and familiar spaces for those who have lost reference, enhancing positive experiences in such serene environments. Unfortunately, those concepts of rural communities are not yet democratised and take time to be installed.

I wanted to conclude with the value of the Social Identity Wheel. This made me think that this exercise could be a great contribution to team cohesion and understanding among team members within a company which embrace inclusivity.

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As a nursing student, the Social Identity Wheel emerges as a vital tool in understanding the multifaceted components influencing one's identity within social contexts, encompassing aspects like race, ethnicity, and gender. In the realm of migrants, this tool takes on heightened significance, aiding individuals in comprehending and navigating their identities, fostering self-awareness, and promoting cohesion among diverse backgrounds.

Within the migrant experience, the role of language is pivotal, significantly impacting one's sense of belonging and interpersonal connections. The narrative detailing the challenges of not knowing the local language, especially in a country like Finland where Suomi is spoken, underscores the potential for language barriers to intensify feelings of isolation.

The depiction of the impact of war, as observed through the lens of the Afghan and Palestine conflicts, sheds light on the unique struggles faced by migrants. The narrative poignantly expresses the difficulty of conveying the emotional burden of these wars in a new environment, contributing to a profound sense of loneliness.

In the serene backdrop of Finland, the narrative transitions to stress factors affecting migrants, including contemplation of suicide and dealing with the aftermath of traumatic experiences. From a nursing perspective, the significance of community support and understanding emerges as pivotal elements in coping with stress and fostering mental well-being.

The recognition of psychoeducation for asylum seekers becomes a focal point, acknowledging the intricate interplay between physical and mental well-being in the face of stress and trauma. Resilience is presented as a cornerstone in the integration process, aligning with the nursing ethos of holistic care. Strategies proposed to improve stress tolerance and reduce stress-inducing situations echo the nursing commitment to comprehensive health care.

The narrative, in essence, underscores the need for a holistic nursing approach to mental health, where individuals are viewed beyond their challenges, and their potential contributions to the community are acknowledged. In the nursing student's perspective, this highlights the importance of culturally competent care, recognizing the impact of identity and experiences on mental well-being.

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The Social Identity Wheel reveals the complexity of identity by highlighting how different factors such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status interact in our lives. PALOMA's video "New Homeland" highlights the resilience and adaptability of refugees in Finland, putting a human face on the integration process. The expert presentations at the PALOMA training offer deep insight into the multifaceted experiences of refugees, enhancing my understanding of their challenges and strengths. The Social Identity Wheel encourages a more introspective approach to identity, encouraging me to think about how my own identity influences my perceptions and interactions. Understanding the diversity of refugee experiences, as shown in the PALOMA videos, can improve my ability to empathize with and support people from different backgrounds in my work or study. The Social Identity Wheel can be a valuable tool for creating inclusive educational and professional environments that promote empathy and understanding. PALOMA educational videos can serve as an educational resource by providing real-life context to theoretical concepts of migration and integration. Applying the ideas of the Social Identity Wheel to your personal life can lead to greater self-awareness and more meaningful interactions with different people. The expert presentations at the PALOMA training enrich my knowledge base, allowing me to think more thoughtfully about refugee-related issues in my professional field. Both the Social Identity Wheel and PALOMA training emphasize the importance of recognizing and respecting the diversity of individual experiences in developing inclusive communities.

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Learning about how people from different countries become a part of Finland and get help is important for me as a student studying how to help people. In Finland, some people come here as refugees, which means they had to leave their home country because it wasn't safe. I have seen that it is not easy for them.

One big challenge is the language. Finnish is the main language here, and it can be hard for them to learn it. Not knowing the language well can make it difficult to communicate and be a part of the community. I think it's important to have good language support to help them feel more included.

Another challenge is understanding and adapting to Finnish culture. People from different backgrounds bring diverse traditions, and it's important to respect and celebrate these differences. This makes them feel more at home and part of the community.

In Finland, there is a system to help people, but it's not always perfect. I have learned that some things can be improved to make sure everyone gets the support they need. This is something I want to work on in the future, making sure the system works better for everyone.

In my personal life, being in Finland has helped me make friends from different places. These friendships have shown me how important it is to be open to different cultures. It's not just about helping in my studies; it's about being a good friend and neighbor to people who are trying to make a new home here.

Looking back on my time here, I'm thankful for the chance to see how strong and determined people are when they come to Finland for a new start. These experiences will always stay with me and guide me in helping others in the future.

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After watching the videos I have learned more difficulties immigrants have when they come to Finland that I have not thought of; like the different types of socialization. In the video of PALOMA Adeline talks about how she was used to talking with their neighbours and asking for salt or anything but when she came to Finland neighbors were more shy, and behaved differently than she was used to. In the documentary, they also mention more different ways of socialization compared to their home country.

I also found interesting the way learning a language helps you to feel more secure and confident Delo said: "but when you learn the language, you realize the world is nice"

In the last video, I have profundity to understand the feelings that an immigrant feels when coming to another country. In the video, they teach us to learn how important is to understand that maybe they have traumatic experiences, and that can affect them. Also, stress is a crucial part because can cause physical and mental problems. If it is not well managed can affect also the family and friends' environment. Because of that is important for immigrants to receive psychoeducation, so they can learn tools to manage their emtions and the difficult changes.

About the Social Identity Wheel Overview and Framing Material I think is a very helpful tool that promotes self-reflection about identity, and can help to understand each other and foment empathy.

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I found this documentary very moving. Getting to know people's experiences when arriving to Finland is very interesting, and also very touching.

The first man in the documentary, personally I really resonate with him when he speaks about feeling invisible, and feeling lost as he doesn't know the language or culture. I can imagine it can feel lonely, asyou are unable to communicate with anyone in this "new world" ahead of you. About the second testimony, I think her experience is very different from the first guy, as she migrated from a refugee camp. I did resonated with her more, as she had some culture shocks that I personally had when arriving to Finland. Adjusting to this new life can be very difficult, and can certainly feel like you are alone, especially when coming from a very different cultural background. I also liked that many of the people in the documentary, even though they went through different traumatic experiences when migrating, they all speak about how Finland has welcomed them and helped them getting to know the culture. I've also learned that not all immigrants have the same story, and don't experience the same things. Some of them left their country because of war or bad conditions in their country, but some of the also had a more peaceful transition, or even were raised in Finland, which made things easier. However, each of them had to face their own challenges, despite their different backgrounds.

In the lecture from the last video, I learned some things that I had already noticed in the last video. For example, how stressful a change as big as migrating can be for a person, especially for a refugee. Leaving friends, family and overall a place that you call home behind can be very traumatic. In addition, some factors like feeling lonely in a new place, not feeling part of any social group or even feeling ignored and discriminated, can make immigrants more vulnerable to be stressed, anxious and depressed.

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The short documentary was touching and also very interesting. It is interesting to hear from these people and how they experienced everything.

It really shows how not speaking the language and having certain cultural differences can make you feel insecure. I also found the perspective of Najma interesting because she was born in Finland and still has the feeling that she isn’t accepted in Finland. Many people who are second or third generation migrants and born in the country they live in can still feel different even though they speak the language and went to school there etc. So cultural differences can still make you feel lonely I think it is important for social workers to keep this in mind.

In the second video about mental health I found the part about long term stress very interesting. I think sometimes we forget about the stress migrants can experience. By underestimating this I think we can desire too much from migrants: expect them to learn the language very fast, get a job as soon as possible,… . This is something to keep in mind when I am back in Belgium and have a debate with fellow co-workers, students, friends and family about integration.

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Hearing about everybody's journey to Finland from their home country, and the issues experienced upon arrival was very emotional. But seeing how they all prevailed, in spite of their initial doubts was just as moving.

I'm fortunate to have come to Finland from a country that was not at war, and had a roughly equal standard of living. While I personally didn't face the same difficulties in my home country, hearing about the journeys and challenges of those who came to Finland from war-torn or socially unjust places was truly eye-opening. I feel fortunate for the circumstances of my own journey, but it's a reminder of the resilience and strength that so many people demonstrate in seeking a better life. How can anybody berate those looking to escape a dangerous country looking for a better life? Who themself would not do the same?

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PALOMA short documentary is touching because people are sharing their personal stories. I wish people keep sharing it on social media so that most people get to see it. It was very enjoyable listening in PALOMA training episode 1 Antti Klemettilä delivering with a calm tone and explaining well about the psychological mechanisms in immigration and the importance of integration.

We humans tend to live in our own social bubbles. So, what is good about the Social Identity Wheel is that it encourages us to think about people who differentiate e.g. in terms of age, ability, race or socio-economic status from our typical social circle.

The way I already use this in my work, studies and personal life is that in suitable situations I like to bring these other identities and stories into discussions.

For example, I choose to use the Finnish gender-neutral term “esihenkilö” instead of a male term “esimies”. We had an interesting discussion where another person did not see the term neutral but “henkilö” always as a female term. And other person noted that in a new work place it might be safer to first listen what term the bosses themselves use and identify with.

Better to ask than assume - one of my life mottos.

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The initial video resonates deeply with me, eliciting strong emotions. The music, the somewhat melancholic atmosphere, and the intense narratives of the refugees only begin to hint at the emotions they must have experienced upon their arrival. What struck me even more was the symbolic imagery toward the end, where metaphorical puzzle pieces came together to form a collective and meaningful picture. Witnessing people coming together and creating something meaningful (in this example the car repair shop) in this way is truly heartening.

This visual representation beautifully conveys the message that "it doesn't matter where you are from, and even if your home countries are in conflict, people can still connect." Additionally, I found the scientific explanations about stress and the in-depth exploration of potential mental structures of refugees to be intriguing. The detailed descriptions of how changes can impact the psyche further underscore the profound effects of stress, both negative and positive.

The second video presented several compelling pieces of information. I particularly appreciate the Social Identity Wheel exercise, as it allows students to gain insights into themselves and their perceptions. It promotes self-awareness of various facets and identities, helping individuals understand which aspects are more pronounced. This exercise has the potential to enhance interpersonal relationships and reduce barriers.

Engaging with these materials helps me consciously grasp the significance of such changes and aids me in better understanding people with diverse backgrounds and stories.

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The documentary touched me deeply. It's very interesting to hear about people's life experiences. Many spoke about loneliness. It must be crazy to rebuild one's entire life again. New language, new culture, new people, new environment. I'm here in Finland as an exchange student. Even though I'm enjoying my time here, I can say for sure that I don't want to emigrate. The main reason is the sense of belonging. Even if I were to learn Finnish, I would be reminded every day that I'm a foreigner. I have great respect for people who manage to build a new life in a foreign country.

I also found the presentation on Mental Health very interesting. Understanding and recognizing the unique challenges refugees face regarding mental health is essential in developing inclusive and effective support systems that cater to their specific needs. It's imperative to create a welcoming and supportive environment that acknowledges and respects the mental health struggles of refugees while offering resources and assistance to help them heal and thrive in their new homes.

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After watching the videos about people migrating to Finland, it is important to acknowledge their situation correctly. Me as a non-refugee, it will always be hard to know how the people really feel. But I can try my best to understand and respect their situation as much as possible. That’s why it can be very important for migrants and refugees in general to not be left alone with it and share and connect them with people who experienced something similar. When someone comes to a new country, they are facing big challenges such as: a new language, cultural differences, immigration policies, climate, food, and many more. Also, the fact that they often struggle with mental health problems is understandable knowing all the stress that they are facing with so little help.

The Social-Identity-Wheel is a practical tool to reflect on yourself. The most interesting question for me is the 5th one: Identities that have the greatest effect on how others perceive you. It is hard to tell how other people view you or what they think of you. I am aware of my privileges and I guess others can see that immediately (Tall, white, fit, Male with descent clothe). But beside my privileges I always try to be a good example in everyday business (simple things such as: be kind, never throw thrash on the ground, (sometimes throwing thrash away from others), holding open doors and so on). Whenever I see someone acting kindly in public it makes me very happy, because you can tell that people actually care about others.

To have a small understanding about someone’s past and what comes with it can always be beneficial in your work field to connect better with someone on more levels. If someone doesn’t respect the challenges someone had to face or is still facing, that person is probably in the wrong work field.

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Having watched the videos about people immigrating to Finland is interesting. Hearing people with different cultures, languages and norms and values is very interesting to me personally most of the time. I might not always agree or understand everything but having the freedom of expression and religious believes is very important in personal and intellectual freedom. I think Finland does great in these “freedom” aspects.

It is funny how relatable some comments from the immigrants were. Like for example: that Finns do not really approach you in public at all but are very helpful. This is something I have experienced myself since I moved here for my studies.

Immigrants struggling with maintaining mental health problems, isolation and loneliness seems like a logical outcome after moving country. Leaving behind your country, friends, family, work, and other familiar things can be quite hard. Therefore, I think proper resources, assistance and help from a government is recommended for all immigrants that need it.

To prevent social/ political tensions and since resources, assistance and help are not unlimited. Immigration policies and laws should be a well-considered and fair. This is often a difficult thing to define, what is lawfully acceptable and fair? This personally interests me as well, especially in Dutch politics and campaigns. I think being well informed about legislation, human rights and global news helps one form a better opinion about these kinds of subjects.

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At the heart of the problem is that migrating and seeking refuge is a deeply challenging and often dangerous journey. People do not make the decision to leave their country unless they have a strong reason to do so.

As I watched these well, I thought how I wish that all people could understand what it really means to be a refugee, and that we could all see how their journey is fraught with dangers and adversity that they have to face.

The mental health of most refugees and migrants is often greatly affected by the traumatic experiences they face before, during and after the journey they embark on. To all this we must also add the conflicts and persecutions to which they are subjected because of the conditions in which they find themselves. Adapting to a new culture and lifestyle must be complex. Many times you have to learn a new language, adapt to new schedules and new customs, adapt to the climate and food... Adapt to a new educational system and understand the social norms of that country. All this generates new emotions, both positive and negative. An internal struggle is created about wanting to preserve your roots and adapt to new customs, and you must learn to manage both.

On the other hand, there is also stress from displacement, feeling alone for being far from home, feeling like you have no one to lean on, all of this generates a feeling of desperation. For this reason, I think it is essential that these people have easy access to psychological support, where they can find that support that they feel they lack. It is heartbreaking to be aware of the length that the asylum process often takes, since it is full of doubts and uncertainty.

Listening to these stories, it has become clear to me that the journey that refugees and migrants take is characterized by resilience and the search for a prosperous life. Their experiences highlight the importance of global cooperation, the purpose of which is to establish new policies that help solve these types of situations. Protect the lives of these people, ensure their safety, which is important to their feelings, and help them rebuild their lives in a new country that can provide them with a quality of life, and teaches them to contribute something to the country that has welcomed them.

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It was really touching to hear the point of view of these people and their feeling about the whole situation they are living.

It made me feel quite sad to imagine that some of them are completely alone in a country they didn't choose with a really hard language to learn and a completely different culture in which it's quite hard to make friends.

I could relay to some of their feeling, even though I chose to move to Finland, it's still a different way of living than in France and it's quite hard to to make friends at first. And on top of that the winter darkness can take a big tole on one's mental health.

It would be really great to have more intercultural spaces in most big-ish cities.

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I must admit that before starting this course and especially before doing this task I didn't know much about refugees, I just had basic concepts.

The video where different refugees tell their experience is very moving and it has brought me closer to this topic to know the different stories. As an exchange student, although it is true that I do not migrate for the same reasons, I think it is now easier for me to understand the feelings and experiences they share.

Among these feelings, the culture shock that one suffers and that together with the language barrier, makes it difficult to adapt and not feel alone. But one of the things that they say and that I have noticed is that although it is true that Finns are not very social, they are very helpful when you ask them for help, which makes it very easy to adapt.

In addition, refugees are faced with constant unexpected and compulsory changes (change of culture, language, possessions, family members, friends, acquaintances), all of which can cause them stress, which can sometimes help but if it goes on too long can affect their mental health. This makes me reflect on the importance of the first contacts in an unfamiliar country that will make everyone develop completely different experiences and make them feel insecure or at peace. Everything becomes more important.

For me the most important thing is to have the necessary support and to be able to find help when needed.

Another thing I would like to emphasise is the resilience that is mentioned. It is a difficult quality to acquire but one that I deeply admire in refugees, to be able to leave everything behind, start a new life and cope in the best possible way.

On the other hand, I find the social identity wheel a very practical way to sit down and reflect on who you are and to get to know yourself better.

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Finally, all this can be beneficial for the treatment of my patients in the future, whether I meet a refugee, work in a refugee camp or something related. In order to be able to transmit confidence, security and to bring them closer to the new culture they are entering.

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Honestly, it was a little shocking to hear the stories of the various refugees. The difficulties they were facing while integrating, but also after they had been theoretically integrated, were troublesome. From what I understood, the aspect of the lacking language skills was a huge burden for many of them. Not being able to talk in Finnish caused them sadness and sometimes even trouble or shame.

One of the refugees was talking about how much he felt restricted by the language barrier since he usually was rather talkative. Another described a situation where he was denied help in finding directions only because he approached a Finn, asking his questions in English.

Yet, another refugee had difficulties establishing contacts due to his lack of knowledge of the Finnish language.

Nonetheless, even after their language skills improved, some felt lonely and excluded due to the differences in culture as well as daily routines and little human contact.

The Social Identity wheel seems like a good possibility to clarify one`s thoughts on self-identification. Additionally, it helps improve the understanding of different backgrounds and depicts the fact, that almost every person has some kind of roots coming from other nationalities.

Becoming aware of the struggle of integration that many refugees have to face when arriving in Finland, has had a strong impact on me. Instead of avoiding interaction with those who act and look different, we should celebrate our diversities and contribute to the simplification of the integration of refugees. A short talk may already help them feel more valued.

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Listening to the stories of the refugees, of so many people who have been forced to leave their home country, has made me realise how lucky we are.

On the one hand, I was very moved to see how at first all their feelings are of fear and uncertainty, of not knowing anything about their new destination and of facing a new country and a totally different culture. They express insecurity at not knowing the language, not understanding anything that is going on around them; the feeling of loneliness until they manage to create a small social circle.

They are often haunted by the worry of not knowing how their families are doing and the desire to be reunited. The fact that they have left their own country, which is often at war, and their feeling of exclusion, of not belonging to the new country to which they are going, has caused me a lot of sadness.

On the other hand, they are gradually going through a process of learning and adaptation and you can see their sense of relief when people offer help, are kind and understanding. However, it has caused me a lot of helplessness how in certain occasions they notice people's contempt towards them because they are immigrants.

In conclusion, these testimonies have made me aware of this situation that thousands of people go through on a daily basis, of how important it is to treat and welcome people without judgement and to take into account that many of them may have traumatic experiences that affect their mental health. It seems to me that we have a lot to learn from people who have lived through this type of situation, as they value and are happy with simple things that many of us forget, such as access to education, people's empathy, having a decent job where they can relate to people, living in a country without war, etc.

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Personally, when I was watching these videos, especially the first one: “PALOMA introduction”, which was such an emotional video helped me to empathize with the problems that the refugees have to face when they leave their countries. It was interesting that almost all of them talked about the differences between the social behavior of the finish people, referring to the culture. Secondly, the most important part that I feel about the second video was the importance of involve all the people in the society for having a good mental health, realizing that each small talk with them in fact is a big step or an important action on their minds. Furthermore, I conclude that we have to respect everyone without matter the place where they came from. And talking about the social wheel, I has been surprised about the fact that according which your social situation you can thing more in one thing.

How can you use this information in your work/studies/personal life?

The question is not how can I use the information, it is better how can we talk and treat each other as we deserve. Obviously in my case, a nursing student, these type of knowledge and consciousness about the refugees will help me to search on this type of problem for helping them to get over their problems.

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The fact of the matter is, migrating and seeking refuge is a deeply challenging and often dangerous journey. People do not make these decisions lightly for themselves and their families.

Watching these videos, I wish people could actually see and understand that the journey of refugees and migrants is filled with dangers and hardship.

The mental health of most refugees and migrants can be severely affected by the traumatic experiences they've had to endure before and during their journey. Conflict, persecution, and the severities of the journey they take can lead to conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. I remember hearing from one of our lectures about how

arriving in a new country as a refugee or migrant can be both a relief and also bring a whole new set of challenges. Finding safety is just the first step, and then there's the need to establish a life in an unfamiliar environment.

Adapting to a new culture and way of life can be very overwhelming. They often must learn a new language, navigate a new education system, and understand unfamiliar societal norms.

As a migrant myself I have come across people who say certain migrants from certain places are lazy and don’t want to work but they refuse to understand that finding stable employment is usually one of the most pressing worries a migrant /refugee has, they often struggle to secure work that matches their skills, qualifications, or prior experience.

Not to mention the process of cultural adjustment can be a rollercoaster also. It involves trying to retain one's cultural identity while trying to embrace new customs. This requires open-mindedness, respect, and the willingness to learn from and about others.

Also, the stress of displacement, combined with the loneliness of being far from one's home and support network, can lead to feelings of isolation and despair. It's crucial that they are provided with psychological and social support to address these issues, because many refugees and migrants have experienced severe trauma in their home countries before arriving. The healing process often takes time, and I agree with Anti, that mental health services is the key in helping them recover.

It’s very heart breaking, hearing how the asylum process is often lengthy and filled with uncertainty. I can see how the waiting period can be mentally and emotionally draining, with individuals and families unsure of their future.

Listening to the stories, it’s clear the journey of refugees and migrants is marked by resilience, and the pursuit of a better life. Their experiences highlight the importance of global cooperation, for there to be more compassionate policies, and broad support systems to help them rebuild their lives and find a sense of security and belonging in their new homes.

I found The Social Identity Wheel to be a quite encouraging self-reflection tool. It offers people to consider how they're identities influence their perspectives, interactions, and relationships with others. I believe this self-awareness can be a powerful tool for personal growth and empathy.

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Misconceptions about mental health among refugees and immigrants often overlook the psychological impact of their journey. For many refugees, their lives may not have been safe, but they were familiar. The abrupt changes they face, including fleeing their homeland, can have profound mental health implications.

The connection with traumatic stress is evident, as refugees have often experienced war, persecution, or displacement, leaving deep emotional scars. They may carry the burden of past traumas, making it challenging to adapt to new environments. Also anxiety about uncertainty in life is common, as their futures are often uncertain and unpredictable.

Refugees often find themselves in a perpetual "fight or flight" mode, a survival instinct developed through their experiences. This can be exhausting and detrimental to mental well-being and the lack of a sense of belonging adds to their psychological burden.

Hearing about Najma’s life, I feel like I can relate a bit. As someone who has been living in Finland since a young age, it is not uncommon to experience a sense of being an outsider. This feeling, often referred to as a "perpetual outsider" sensation, can have significant consequences on one's psychological and social well-being.

Firstly, feeling like an outsider can lead to a sense of isolation and loneliness. It may be challenging to fully integrate into the local culture and community, which can result in a lack of meaningful social connections and support networks. Additionally, this feeling can impact self-esteem and self-confidence. It may lead to self-doubt and a constant need for validation, making it harder to establish a strong sense of identity and self-worth.

I think the Social Identity Wheel is beneficial for immigrants and refugees as it provides a structured framework to explore their complex identities and the intersections of their cultural, ethnic, and national backgrounds. This self-reflection helps them better understand themselves, navigate the challenges of acculturation, and communicate their unique experiences with others, promoting a sense of belonging and cultural empowerment in their new environment.

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I have watched most of the THL videos earlier during our Mental health course. What I really liked about the videos were that there are so many people who are talking about empathy including self-empathy, dynamic nature of mental health, cultural sensitivity and addressing our own biases that gives a clear direction of how we should be looking at the work in the social sector. In my opinion, they are applicable for everyone - be it with migrants, any other individual or the professionals who need to work with various people. However, in my interactions with professionals, I have observed that many tend to adopt a straightforward approach in various situations, often guided by legislation and available services. While we frequently discuss topics like inclusion, diversity, and biases, I believe it's crucial to introspect and challenge our own biases more deeply, as this is essential for us to serve in this field effectively. In our journey towards playing the role of social workers, it's our responsibility to look deeper within ourselves. I can relate with this thought too closely, as I have been vocal about this too many times in various interactions. We do need to have mandatory courses on psychology, understanding of human behaviour, challenging our own biases etc. to be equipped with a better understanding in dealing especially with migrants.

Regarding the wheels, I believe that the combination of both the personal identity & social identity wheels along with the spectrum activity gives a wider internal understanding of an individual. It can be used as an icebreaker activity for a new class, and can give a direction to the instructors on the depth of the discussions that will be needed to develop the students' thought processes.

As future social workers, we must be equipped with a deep understanding of our own identities and biases to offer the best support and assistance to those we aim to serve, with a holistic approach. These tools not only enrich our personal growth, but also provide us with the means to facilitate meaningful discussions, foster empathy with our future clients, equip us with the insights & skills needed to embark on a fulfilling journey as future social field workers and most importantly as a human being.

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The videos emphasize the dynamic nature of mental health, highlighting that it fluctuates in daily life and is maintained through everyday activities and interpersonal relationships regardless of their professional or personal nature. They underline the role of everyone, not just mental health or integration professionals in promoting the well-being and integration of refugees they encounter, and I dare to say that not only refugees, but we also influence the well-being of every person we interact with. Cultural sensitivity is essential, requiring an appreciation of different customs and beliefs and the identification of personal biases. I loved the fact that several speakers brought this up since I resonate so much with this idea, and I have been quite vocal about the implication of not being aware of personal biases and prejudices, especially as a future professional in this field.

Professionals should also adopt a flexible and holistic approach, cooperate with others, and adapt their work methods when working with refugees and remember that while they might be experts in integration programs, legislation and methodologies, their clients are the experts on their own lives.

Professionals are encouraged to learn necessary skills, including working with interpreters and embracing multiprofessionalism, understanding different residential statuses, recognizing vicarious traumatisation, and seeking support and training. Despite this, there's a lack of mandatory courses in our studies that cover psychology and human behaviour and that would equip us with the tools to better help our clients.

The personal and social identity wheels along with the spectrum activity, questions of identity, can be effective tools in multicultural environments for promoting understanding, empathy, and communication. However, their effectiveness depends on the willingness of participants to engage openly and honestly in these activities. Facilitators should create a safe and non-judgmental space for these discussions. Additionally, it's important to follow up these activities with ongoing diversity and inclusion initiatives to ensure lasting impact in multicultural environments.

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Uusi kotimaa stories were very touching. I think this information is useful in all areas of life. I think the most important thing is how we encounter others, And how well we know our own culture and the norms. It's more convenient for everyone, if you know to explain what causes a sudden behaviour and you yourself recognise the differences between cultures, then you understand what they might be facing, You can see the world in their eyes.

The fact of refugees feeling lonely doesn't surprise me. In a country like Finland where people are more individuals and hiding their emotions it can be a challenging to get connected with, not to mention the lack of common language.
So it's important for refugees mental health and integration that the entire society takes responsibility for it. Like Klemettilä said on the video, it doesn't matter who's but every eye contact matters.

Lastly, I have a friend who lives in a slum in a developing country.(He has had a very tough childhood) One time we were coming from a club, we arrived at our guest house where he suddenly crawled under the bed and started to yell, don't touch me, don't touch me! The incident scared me, how much trauma the other one can have that I'm not aware of? Would it be easier or harder to face the trauma in Finland? In the slum, you know your neighbours and there is always someone to talk with. But in Finland it's different. You might start feeling lonely, you don't hear your mother tongue, people ain't paying attention to you and you might have no one to talk to. If he isn't dealing with the trauma now, will the different environment force him to face the trauma?

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I really enjoyed watching the video -  “Short Documentary: A New Home Country”. I immediately remembered the time when I did my internship at the women's shelter. The young women there often did not know anyone, came alone to a new country (in this case Austria) and did not know a word of the local language German. It was very difficult for me to communicate with them because we did not speak a common language and had to talk with our hands and feet. And it must have been especially hard for the people in the video when they moved to Finland, couldn't speak Finnish and were sometimes all alone because they didn't know anyone.

My feeling is that the social workers in this documentary have already put a lot of effort into it. However, I think it is still possible to make sure that people who are new to a new country and don't know anyone can meet new people. Perhaps groups of people who are in a similar situation can be brought together to prevent loneliness.

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I really liked the video about mental health and refugees, because it reflects how change and challenges can affect our minds. Surprises and changes consume energy, so we love routines and repetitions, because they bring us security and stability. Being a refugee means being surrounded by constant changes, because they have left their family, friends, work, culture, language, religion…As a exchange student, at first, I was really insecure about being in Finland because I did not know anything about the language, and people used to tell me that finnish people are not so social.

I want to highlight a sentence that I liked: “Stress is infectious”. This has made me reflect a lot about it, because if we are in an environment where stress is predominant, eventually the environment will become very stressful. Related to refugees, they have to learn a new language and daily habits that can damage their mental health.

According to the Social Identity Wheel, we are social animals, and we always tend to be in a group, but when they have to move to another country, it is so difficult for them to belong to a social group. As a social worker, I would love to take the first step to be able to help them in any way I can, and to learn more about their customs so that they feel more integrated.

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The videos are really powerful. It was interesting to recognize some of my own experiences as a newcomer in Finland in them, specially coming from cultures where the connections and interpersonal relationships with family, friends and neighbours are constructed differently.
I am amazed with the resilience that they showed telling their stories.
The video from the expert was a good remainder of how mental health is such a key aspect in our life, and a dimension that needs to always be consider when talking about wellbeing. It was important to be remained that mental health problems can be easily overlooked; specially when people don't show the symptoms most commonly associated or expected when experiencing mental health issues. Also it was important to be remained of the effects of prolong or chronic stress in the brain, what need to take into account for all sort of traumatic events.
As for the "Social Identity wheel" is a tool that i can se, easily, been applied in different scenarios, and i like the "warnings" that the document has, as some of this "labels" can be a sensitive topics for people, and they may need space or/and time to use it, if they feel comfortable participating on the exercise.

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I think the stories are told very pure, which for me makes them powerful. The way they describe the Finnish culture is familiar to me. It is the same as I experienced it in the first weeks after I came here. Except from this view on the Finnish culture, I can not relate to their lives and stories. Getting insides to a person's life in this way can be so valuable, not seeing the fact that somebody is a migrant but seeing them as an individual person. Telling their story and experiences.
What sticks with me is the need for connection that all the interviews express. Connection that is difficult to achieve due to language and social norms that may differ from their own.
To make the connection to the social identity wheel, I think it can be a fitting tool for social- and healthcare workers to start or to guide a conversation. Having a visual aid can be helpful in conversation, to visualize emotions and thoughts. Especially when expressing yourself in a language that isn't your native. Seeing clearly what is important to a person may lead to identifying goals and ideas for the (near) future.

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I was very touched by the materials, especially by the video of refugees talking about their arrival to Finland and their feelings in general. I found their clever epiphanys about finns heart warmingly funny. I think they had captured finnish cultural features very well, and even though I am aware of significant cultural differences between people from different parts of the world it still hit me differently when I heard a refugee describe them. For example that one lady said that unlike in her home country, here in Finland strangers or even neighbours don't talk to each other and that is indeed so true!

I think the most important thing I learned from these materials was the raw and honest point of view of a refugee's daily struggles and challenges since now I can form a much more realistic picture in my head about what it really is to leave everything familiar behind you and start all over from scratch. The last video also highlighted some key factors that affect the well-being of a refugee or a migrant that I can already feel are useful to know in my job in customer service. I again think that EVERY ONE should see these videos. People who think refugees get "easy money" from KELA or social services and have an "easy life" here could really learn something from this... Judgemental people who don't even try to see things differently angers me.

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The real stories give us a heartfelt look at the ups and downs of starting over in a foreign country.

The video's expert talks about the tough challenges refugees face in their new home. A big eye-opener is that one in three refugees has been through really tough times like threats and trauma. This shows how much they need our understanding and help as they start their new life.

The video also shows that when refugees arrive in a new country, they often feel like they don't fit in, just like many other newcomers do.

These all tells us that refugees are strong and can adapt to their new lives, especially when people in their new community are welcoming and supportive. It's a reminder that we can make a big difference by being kind and inclusive to newcomers in our society, and that it's a win-win situation where everyone benefits.

In a world where many people are forced to leave their homes, this video reminds us that we share common human experiences. It also shows that by being friendly and supportive, we can help those who are searching for a new home and a fresh start.

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This was the first time I learned about the Social Identity Wheel. I have used similar tools before in coaching focusing rather on areas of life than identity. Personally I do not connect very deeply with this identity wheel exercise, which I guess indicates that I'm living fairly uncomplicated life in a social surrounding that allows me to function as I am. I would be curious to explore the wheel with other people.

The documentary and talk from PALOMA I found extremely well done and emotional. I kept thinking about my parents who are not that social in general, and even less so have interactions with people who look somewhat different. I also reflected on the political discourse that has issues with the economical impact of taking care of immigrants and refugees; it seems such a disconnection from the humanity in oneself if the impulse for action is isolation through threatning imagery of the unknown than looking for openness inside to learn and connect with those who need help.

I come to the same conclusion like in the first module: we human are essentially all the same, which means that showing up and seeing others without ideas about them becomes very important for living a meaningful and healthy life.

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I think the Social Identity Wheel can be used as a method to reflect on yourself and it can start a conversation in your group. I think it helps to see that people are different and value different things and that that is okay.
The videos show that refugees have a lot to deal with. They need to be social, but that is hard when you are in an unfamiliar country. I think that in my work it is important that I make the first step into making contact. And try to make them feel welcome and offer help where they need it. This I can extend in my personal life too I think.