Table 3 An overview of the salient themes by each social environmental factor at the micro-, meso-, and macro-levels and impact on mental health, well-being, and ability to flourish

Micro-level

Theme 1a. I miss my wife and kids. I am worried for their well-being. I feel depressed and cannot sleep well

Theme 1b. I try to talk to my mom every week on WhatsApp. This helps me feel less depressed

Theme 4. I can count on my friend here at the center. I am depressed. It is hard to wait and not know what will happen to me in my future. But I look to him so I can keep going each day. He helps me feel less depressed

Theme 7. I do not feel comfortable leaving the center. I am invisible here in France and do not feel like I belong. I feel alone and depressed

Meso-level

Theme 2. I know I can count on the people who work here. I am well accompanied for the administrative procedures. These people help me deal with my anxiety

Theme 5a. I like when volunteers from the area and the university come to spend time with us. I feel heard. It also helps me deal with my stress of being in my situation. I can talk about other things with them

Theme 5b. No one is available to help me. I go to the appointment with the staff member, I explain my concerns, but there is very little help they offer me. It makes me feel more anxious

Theme 8. No one approaches me here in France. They do not see me. They do not know me. I feel lonely and depressed at times. The French people mobilized and were very vocal about wanting us out of here. Some extremists even posted a sign outside where we lived demanding that we leave

Macro-level

Theme 3a. I am completely apart from the French people. I am marginalized. I need the vital things: to go to work. I do not want the government to give me money. I want to go to work. I feel I spend a lot of time doing nothing. Staying all day and doing nothing, plays with your mind. You get depressed or angry. There are days I am feeling depressed and then I am mad. This is not good for my health. I want to do more with my life and be healthy

Theme 3b. There are older people and younger people who are here to help us. The instructors and volunteers help us learn French. They are our connection to learning more about French language and culture and to feeling less lonely

Theme 6. Going through the asylum-seeking procedures […] and policies are not there to help me and not getting the government supports has been a really hard struggle. I am completely overwhelmed and depressed. I do not see the end nor a way to move forward with my future

Theme 9. I have no certainty about my future in France right now because I lack papers here. I can be deported. I cannot work without papers. I have little security. With papers, I will have more security. I can work and then find a path to bring my 9-year-old daughter here from Mali. We can be together as a family again