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In this research paper, a variety of articles are examined about immigrants’ access to mental health services in Canada. It addresses the significant barriers to utilization of resources, and it also makes suggestions about changes that could improve mental health services for immigrants.
Although immigrants receive economic and political support in Canada, often social support does not follow the same pattern. New immigrants are oftentimes faced with factors that affect their utilization of government services that can help them transition to their new life. Factors such as language barriers, discrimination, unacceptance, health beliefs, and religious practices can all affect their ability to search for help. These barriers can also cause a huge impact on
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Once an immigrant proceeds to receive help, they may be faced with cultural and language barriers as well. To eliminate these barriers for immigrants, there needs to me major adjustments to the services that are set out to help them. There are many flaws within mental health services that make it harder for immigrants to approach and achieve the help that they need. There has been a fair amount of research done into what changes and recommendations can be done to improve the services. There is a need for more culturally sensitive mental health education programs that will encourage immigrants to learn more about their mental health. Health promotion strategies and stigma issues can also be addressed in a culturally competent way. Since mental health services may be unknown to immigrants, there needs to be clarification about what the services are and how they can improve an individual’s health (Kirmayer et al., n.d., as cited in Thomson et al., 2015). Socioeconomic issues can also accompany immigration and lead to added stress on new residents. There is a need for mental
Canada is a country that was built by immigration. Every year, thousands of hopeful immigrants come to Canada in order to have a better life. And for some, a better life can be achieved. However, for many others, this is simply not the case. In recent years, the number of visible minority immigrants has increased. And while this country’s ethnic diversity has benefitted from this influx, the economic landscape has shifted in a way to disfavor them. This economic disparity can be found through the income inequality that many immigrants face due to their educational background, low social and cultural capital, and occupational choices. It is these factors that have led to an overqualified work force, higher unemployment rates, and a widening
Many Latinos do not seek treatment because they don't recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions or know where to find help. This is an important aspect of this issue since it is impossible to know if there is a problem with ourselves if they’re not talked about to us. In turn, this increases the stigma associated with mental health issues and worry that they will be seen as weak, crazy or shameful. Even simply spreading the basic information about the common conditions, will help convince people that it is normal to be born with, or develop these
Migration has been found to have negative effects on mental health because of circumstances surrounding the move, circumstances of the actual passage, trouble adapting to the new culture, breaks in the migrant’s support system of friends and family, and disappointed expectations of social and economic acquisition.
According to Kramer (2002), Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial group in the United States; growing from fewer than 1 million in 1960 to 7.2 million in 1990. But despite this ongoing rapid progression, Asian Americans have the lowest rate of utilization of any professional mental health related services than the general United States population (Tung 2011). To increase the utilization of mental health services among the Asian American community, the most hindering barriers that exist preventing Asian Americans in general from seeking out these services must be identified and explored. In spite of the fact that Asian Americans are viewed as the “model minority”, with high academic achievements and few mental/behavioral problems, studies
In prior researches (Kataoka et al., 2003; Beehler et al, 2011), there are significant problems among immigrant children, especially mental health problems. Immigrant children could have pre-migration trauma, being undocumented, and most importantly language problems. So, developing strategies to help immigrant children acculturate effectively would be necessary. There is also a study which suggests that unstable immigrant status increases a child’s risk for psychological and behavioral problems, such as anxiety disorders, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and eating disorders (Pumariega et al. 2005). Moreover, most of literature mentioned that lots of immigrant children experience various problems as learning a new
Poverty in mental health prevents patients from seeking out medical attention due to lack of insurance. “insurance coverage disparities make mental health care less accessible than other forms of health care” (Safran, 2011). Due to lack of insurance patients are not receiving adequate care, such as being evaluated, receiving the appropriate treatments, and not going to doctor follow up appointments to ensure proper care. Without receiving proper treatment, it can cause the patient condition to get worse and would not have a chance of a successful outcome. Also, poverty can cause additional stress and anxiety making the mental illness progress. “The stresses of living with someone who has a mental health problem may be particularly pronounced for families who live in resource poor areas where treatment options, accurate information, and social support may be limited.” (Bischoff, 2017). Lack of attention is another health disparities, due to lack of attention, there is limited funding sources to help mental health patients. Since there is a lack of funding these individuals are not getting the appropriate help that is needed. As well since mental health lacks attention and funding, there are limited mental health institutions, so people who need to be institutionalized may be required to be relocated to another city/state. We must try our best to provide all resources for our patients and
Social interactions between immigrant newcomers and the community hinge upon the ethnic racial and socioeconomic characteristics of elderly immigrants and the society’s ethnic-racial and class structure. Without a comprehensive policy, elderly immigrant integration shall be a far-reaching goal in the Canada. One of the most fundamental conclusions we can draw from is that elderly immigrants sustain best in socially and politically conducive environments that allow them to practice their values and beliefs or change their social and cultural traditions at their pace, while learning and adapting to important community practices more quickly. Doing so, in turn, allows elderly immigrants to build up their confidence and sense of belonging gradually but profoundly. Cultural differences and practical problems such as language barriers and illiteracy make it rather difficult for these groups to reach health promotion and other social services. A transition is needed towards culturally sensitive services to overcome the obstacles to making convenient for elderly immigrants to assimilate in the society. I propose Culture Sensitive Senior Immigrant Integration Policy (CSSIIP) an integrated enabling services policy in which ethnic culturally competent community workers and the other community elders act as liaisons between immigrant elderly and local social welfare and health promotion services. Similarly, an official Canadian policy of multiculturalism buttresses the cohesion and the sense of community while both the concepts are of concern to most of the immigrant people. Integration is not necessarily a smooth process; it requires uncomfortable adjustments among immigrants and the society in which they
...ge of all of their options for treatment. Another very important thing that can be done is to educated mental health professionals about the different aspects of the Asian culture. Being aware of how Asians view and how they have traditionally treated mental illnesses is extremely important to treating people from Asian cultures. Lastly, being open to using modern counseling and drug therapies with tradition ways of treatment is a great way to overcome the challenges of treating Asians.
The social problem we have chosen to address is the mental health status of refugees. Refugees are exposed to a significant amount of trauma due to fear, war, persecution, torture, and relocating. The mental health illnesses that can affect refugees due to exposure to traumas include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Research indicated that refugees relocating from war-torn countries are particularly vulnerable to mental health concerns because many have experienced early traumas and face further post-traumas after relocation (Cummings, et al., 2011). However, despite the prevalence of mental health issues concerning refugees, mental health needs often go unrecognized and untreated.
Immigrant women of colour who are recent immigrants don’t qualify for social assistance and have no income at all (Kholsa, 2008, 223). And the example of how 46% of Black people in Toronto live below the poverty line (Gooden, 2008, 413-426). The discourse of integration needs to be challenged because of the underrepresentation, poverty and social exclusion of racialized and feminised immigrants in Ontario. The socio-economic exclusion and dis-integration of immigrants in Canada challenges the ideas of multiculturalism and acceptance. There are five steps for action for the Ontario provincial government to work with immigrant communities grassroots organizations to decrease immigrant poverty and socio-economic inequality and these include the building and funding of schools in these communities, providing employment opportunities to immigrants, providing adequate housing for low-income immigrant families, the development of community healthcare centers and hospitals that are sanitary and well equipped with medical resources and lastly the fifth step is for the governments to make a commitment that there is affordable and healthy food in stores and food banks in the immigrant communities.
Undocumented Immigrants also deserve Justice As years have progressed, many people within prison institutions have dealt with the tragedy of having to live with life long sentences. Whether they might have committed a non-violent crime or so, people get thrown into lifelong prison sentences. Brittany K. Barnett-Byrd from CNN says the following: Life in prison without the possibility of parole is, short of execution, the harshest punishment available in America. It screams that a person is beyond hope, beyond redemption.
For decades now, mental health and Indigenous Peoples' has been an issue of national concern. According to the Toronto-based Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, suicide is the leading cause of death among Indigenous youth (Centre for Suicide Prevention, 2003). Meanwhile, data from Statistics Canada confirms that rates of death by suicide among Indigenous Peoples are five to six times higher than the national average (Health Canada, 2015). Today, it is understood that the main culprit of this rampant problem has been colonization and theft of land, which has negatively affected the well-being of Indigenous communities. This paper will examine some research on Canada's Indigenous Peoples and mental health, summarizing evidence for the social
As a future social worker, this student is passionate about mental health and the effects of mental illness on individuals and society. Also, as stated in the previous essay, this student is currently studying abroad in Sydney, Australia at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). For this essay, the population that was focused on was those with mental health issues in Australia with an interest in the differences between America and Australia’s policies. There is a group at UNSW called Student Minds which is a student run group dedicated to bringing awareness to Mental Health on college campuses. There were two individuals interviewed by the student, both Australian but one of Asian descent and one of African descent.
Both the mental and physical side effects of immigration are startling, but completely reversible. To begin with, mental screening should be readily accessible to not just immigrants but everyone. The first step in preventing and treating mental illness is proper diagnosis and assessment. In addition, to alleviate stress, children should receive some type of legal aid to facilitate the immigration process. This facilitator does not necessarily have to be a lawyer but rather a liaison who eases the legal proceedings.
My specific task for the practicum was to develop a mental health component for Project RICE. I carried out my assignments under the supervision of a faculty member; Dr. Smith. Dr. Smith is a Professor of Applied Psychology. Dr. Smith conducts research on the impact of immigration, community contexts, individual differences, and racial minority status on the mental health of individuals and families.