Understanding the Ulysses Syndrome, Effective Engagement, and Ways to Heal

As a director of community-based organization who works predominantly with immigrants and refugees, Lucy Morse Roberts noticed immigrant clients colleagues were often experiencing ill-defined malaise, headaches, insomnia. After visiting doctors, the still unwell. She her team sought to understand address this suffering seek ways heal. Research on migratory mournings by Joseba Achotegui offered one lens through which better respond physical psychological ailments experienced refugee clients. Achotegui’s research, including that Ulysses Syndrome cultural situational responsiveness, directly changed programming priorities at Hui International under Roberts’ leadership. This article first defines Syndrome. Second, offers community partners’ personal professional insight as how why research is relevant transformative. Lastly, an organizational framework for effective application intentional engagement.