In answering the question of whether the Iranian Jewish community was actually handling resettlement well, Mastaneh decided to turn to focus groups. Part of the problem with this method, however, was overcoming several obstacles. For one, there was a large stigma surrounding the idea of seeking psychological help. Many in the Iranian community argued that only “crazy people” need therapy and thus were unwilling to seek help even if resettlement created significant hardships. The language barrier also posed an issue since many felt they could not discuss their most personal crises in a foreign language. A third obstacle was financial – even individuals who had the means did not choose to prioritize therapy as something to spend their money on.

Mastaneh would eventually set up the Iranian Peer Counseling Helpline for Jewish Family Services. Peer counselors would answer phone calls in Farsi and provide supportive and referral services to who called. As the program grew, Mastaneh began collecting data on the Iranian community – who was calling, why they were calling, and the like. This gave JFS the information it needed to apply for grants in the hopes of expanding the program. They eventually received a three-year turned seven-year grant that gave them the resources necessary to create lectures, classes, and other programs where members of the Iranian community spoke, shared, and learned from one another.

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