Created participatorily with a group of immigrant women living with chronic pain, this guide shares resources, stories, and advice to help readers better understand and manage chronic pain in their daily lives. It is intended for immigrant persons living with chronic pain, as well as anyone affected by this condition.
It is estimated that about one in five people in Canada lives with chronic pain. Immigrant persons living in Quebec are no exception. Research shows that immigrant persons can face specific challenges in accessing care, obtaining information, and having their voices heard during their pain care journeys.
This guide was created by a group of immigrant women living with chronic pain as part of a participatory research project funded by the Quebec Pain Research Network (Consortium on Sustainable Health).
The idea for this guide arose from a shared observation: the lack of chronic pain resources tailored to the realities of immigrant persons.
During the summer and fall of 2025, our group met to share experiences, challenges, lessons learned, and advice we want to pass on to other immigrant persons living with chronic pain.
This guide was created by and for immigrant persons with chronic pain. However, the advice, insights, and resources it contains may be useful to anyone affected by persistent pain.
The English version of the guide will be available soon.
Research team
Lise Dassieu (principal investigator), Researcher, Research Centre Savoirs partagés of SQNÎM-U and Adjunct Professor, School of Social Work, Université du Québec à Montréal.
Jonathan Bichon, Research Professional, Research Centre Savoirs partagés.
Maripier Arcand-Langlois, Patient-partner, QPRN.
Estelle Carde, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Université de Montréal.
Anaïs Lacasse, Full Professor, Department of Health Sciences, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
Jacqueline Schneider, Researcher, Research Centre Savoirs partagés of SQNÎM-U and Adjunct Professor, Department of Anthropologie, Université de Montréal.
Document in French. English version coming soon.
