Navigating mental health issues as an immigrant family can be tough. This guide addresses some of the main challenges that immigrant children face and provides resources to help them.
How can immigration enforcement crackdowns affect my child’s mental health?
Immigrants are at heightened risk of mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol abuse, among other issues, according to the American Psychological Association. Additionally, immigration enforcement crackdowns like the one launched by the second Trump administration can cause chronic stress for immigrant parents and their children.
Susana Beltrán-Grimm, an assistant professor of applied developmental psychology and education in the Psychology Department at Portland State University, has been doing research on how families with children ages 1-10 have been affected by the current administration. Preliminary findings of a survey she conducted with more than 500 Latino families showed that many families experience anxiety, fear and uncertainty and that they have changed their routines, including avoiding public spaces or activities their children used to do.
Where can immigrant families find mental health care in NYC?
If your child is struggling with anxiety, it can be helpful to reach out to professionals. One immigrant parent who spoke to Documented said they were able to find a counselor for their students through their teachers.
New York City schools offer a variety of mental health services for children. Ask your children’s teachers or principals about the following:
- Counselors at your school
- Faculty mentors, who are dedicated mentors who stay in touch with and support your child from middle school through high school
- Teenspace, which is free online therapy for teenagers
There are also other clinics and non-profit organizations that that provide mental health services for immigrant families in New York:
- Voces Latinas: (718) 593-4528, 37-63C 83rd Street, 2nd Floor Jackson Heights, NY 11372
- Queens College Psychological Center (QCPC): qcpc@qc.cuny.edu, (718) 570-0500, Queens Hall, 65-21 Main St, Flushing, NY 11367
- St. John’s University Center for Psychological Services: psychcenter@stjohns.edu, (718) 990-1900
- St. John’s University Center for Psychological Services: Seton Complex, St. John’s University, 152-11 Union Tpke, Kew Gardens Hills, NY 11367
For emergencies, you can text or call 988, a hotline where people can ask questions about mental health issues or substance misuse. The hotline is available 24 hours, all days of the week and every day of the year.
What activities can be helpful for my kid’s mental health?
Play is extremely important for the well-being of children and parents. Many parents who responded to Beltrán-Grimm’s survey said that they find ways to keep playfulness in their children’s lives.
“[Play] is something that families use as a way, not to distract the children but to make them feel calm and comforted, to reduce stress, and to have a sense of dignity as a family,” said Beltrán-Grimm. During tense political times, play can give families a joyful moment, she said.
Play can be helpful for the following reasons:
- It builds closeness and shows love.
- It can help parents understand their children’s feelings.
- It is an activity you can do at home.
- It can help celebrate your family’s culture. For instance, some parents in Beltrán-Grimm’s survey responded that they teach their children games that they learned when they grew up to bond with them.
What programs and events are safe to take my kids to?
Many immigrant parents expressed a fear of being in public spaces due to immigration enforcement, which not only impacts parents’ everyday routines but also their sense of belonging in these spaces, said Beltrán-Grimm.
But there are still spaces that can be safe, she said.
In New York City, places like public schools do not allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on their premises or do not collaborate with them. A new law signed by New York State governor Kathy Hochul in May of 2026 also bars ICE from coming into safe spaces like hospitals, libraries, shelters, community centers, child care centers, public parks and polling locations without a warrant.
You can find some programming and activities below:
- The Summer in NYC website
- Schools provide a lot of opportunities for after school activities, which you can find here:
- Queens Public library programs and activities
- Brooklyn Public Library events
- New York Public Library events (Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island)
Parents can also learn about their rights in public spaces, which involves learning about how you may interact with ICE. This includes people asking calmly if they are free to go, remaining silent, and refusing to be searched. A longer guide on your rights in public spaces can be found here.
More mental health resources for immigrants in New York can be found here.
