Dr. Pamela Brewer is joined by Dr. Iris Cardenas, Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, for a thoughtful conversation on chronic stress and its impact on immigrant communities. Together, they explore how uncertainty, structural barriers, and lived experiences shape both mental and physical health. This episode of M.E.S.H. invites you to consider the weight of ongoing stress, the fact and power of resilience, community strength, and practical ways people navigate it every day.

🌟 Topics Covered:

• Chronic stress versus acute stress
• Structural barriers to healthcare access
• The role of discrimination in health outcomes
• Physical effects of long-term stress
• Intergenerational transmission of stress
• The weathering effect in marginalized communities
• Fear and uncertainty in daily life
• Community as a protective factor
• Informal versus formal support systems

Key takeaways:

• Chronic stress is not just emotional—it affects the entire body
• Structural inequities directly shape health outcomes
• Uncertainty can intensify both mental and physical strain
• Community connection can buffer the impact of stress
• Strength and resilience are often already present within communities

Learn more about our guest:

• Website: iriscardenas.com
• Affiliation: University of Maryland School of Social Work
• Center: Center for Behavioral Health and Well-being

#MentalHealth
#ChronicStress
#HealthEquity
#ImmigrantHealth
#SocialDeterminants
#EmotionalHealth
#PublicHealth
#CommunityCare
#MESHpodcast
#Psychotherapy