Need ideas for community project: social isolation/loneliness

[ARRR10]

My group was assigned to do our health project on Hmong refugees. Based on the data from the assessment we gathered, one of the health topics we are going to introduce is social isolation/loneliness. So far, we are going to explain the causes, signs & symptoms, and social activities (i.e. mall walking, gardening, potlucks) on a posterboard. Then we're going to roleplay a scene between two depressed refugees who meet in America and decide to have a potluck together, decreasing their social isolation. To me, so far, it does not seem the interventions we are going to implement are not enough to get the point across. Any suggestions/ideas my group can do?

[TazziRN, RN]

How about using healthcare as an example? Hmongs need care just like anyone else, but they're isolated by the language barrier and cultural beliefs. You could either give examples of the isolation because of language (not being able to get your needs understood) or the cultural beliefs regarding hospitalization. The last one could be a biggie........their beliefs on death and dying, and childbirth would be good examples.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

If you have not read it yet, go to "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down". It is a book - but a fast read about a Hmong family who got caught up in the Western style healthcare system. Very distressing. The title refers to their daughter's seizure syndrome - which we feel needs treatment and they feel made her "special".