Khadeja and her children came to Jordan as refugees from Syria in 2012. When they arrived, she and her husband faced significant challenges in paying rent for a home and finding schools for their children. She felt isolated and found it hard to integrate and communicate in a new environment. Khadeja’s son, Ahmad, was just 7 years old when they moved and he and his siblings were out of school for two years. “I witnessed a lot of challenges like school, and we didn’t have a home, or clothes to wear,” says Ahmad.

Leaving Syria and coming to Jordan as a refugee caused a lot of stress for Khadeja. When she lived in Syria, her husband had a stable job and her children were healthy. Now, however, her husband doesn’t have a fixed job, and she worries a lot about finances and her children’s education and health. Khadeja took part in ­­­­Medair’s adult peer support groups and adolescent and caregiver groups with her son Ahmad. In the adult peer support group, she learned techniques, such as breathing and making time for herself to relieve stress. In the adolescent and caregiver groups, she learned how to foster a better relationship with her children. She now spends time with them speaking about what is going on in their lives. Khadeja explains, “Mental health and well-being is important because good mental health will affect your behaviour”. For Khadeja, having good mental health ensures that she can respond well to her family and to life’s challenges.