Restorative Storytelling for Migrants’ and Refugees’ Mental Wellbeing and Community Empowerment in Canada: A Scoping Review

Storytelling is a widely used method in community-based research. We conducted a scoping review to explore restorative storytelling and community theatre as a tool to support mental health literacy and wellness as well as equity among immigrant communities. Our review followed the methodological framework espoused by Arksey and O'Malley and modified by Levac et al. All 13 peer-reviewed studies that met the inclusion criteria were conducted in Canada. Twelve of the included studies employed qualitative methods, with only one using a quantitative approach. The included studies involved diverse immigrants living in communities across Canada. We identified five themes that spoke to the objective of the review: (1) stories of social marginalization and barriers; (2) increased awareness and understanding through stories; (3) storytelling as a space for transformation and healing; (4) connectedness and sharing through stories; and (5) storytelling promoting empowerment and resilience. Language barriers alongside race were identified as major hurdles encountered by some immigrants. Digital storytelling was seen by some immigrants as a process that provided the opportunity to reflect and reminisce on life, which fostered understanding and (re)connection with self and, in so doing, improved emotional wellbeing. Given the increasing mental health disparities in immigrant and racialized communities in Canada, efforts toward improving the mental wellbeing of immigrants through restorative storytelling and community theatre warrant further investigations.