Multicultural Meanings of Social Support among Immigrants and Refugees Miriam Stewart*, Joan Anderson , Morton Beiserà, Edward Mwakarimba§, Anne Neufeld–, Laura Simich** and Denise Spitzer   ABSTRACT Canada continues to be a prominent immigrant and refugee-receiving country in worldwide migration, resettlement, and search for refuge, yet there is a gap in our understanding of these newcomers’ views of the spe- cific meanings of social support and their support needs and resources. The purpose of this study was to understand the meanings of social sup- port for immigrants and refugees in Canada, and to explore the types and adequacy of formal supports. Individual interviews were conducted with 60 service providers and policymakers initially (Phase 1), and 120 immi- grants and refugees (60 Chinese, 60 Somali) in the second phase. The implications of these findings were elicited in group interviews (Phase 3) of policy decision-makers, advocates, service providers, and managers. This investigation revealed many interrelated challenges facing refugees and immigrants such as language difficulties, inadequate information on services, poor health, racism, needs for retraining, rejection of foreign qualifications, unemployment, social isolation, social insecurity, dwindling social networks, and family conflicts. The study also illuminated culturally and socio-economically determined perceptions of social support and * Faculty of Nursing, School of Public Health, University of Alberta.  Culture, Gender & Health Research Unit, School of Nursing, University of British Colum- bia. à Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Settlement; Canadian Institutes of Health Research. § Social Support Research Program, University of Alberta. – Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta. ** Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto; Culture, Community and Health Studies Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.   Institute of Women’s Studies & Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa. Ó 2008 The Authors Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd., Journal Compilation Ó 2008 IOM 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK, International Migration Vol. 46 (3) 2008 and 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148, USA. ISSN 0020-7985