This month marks the first month that I have been at Eco-Physiotherapy providing psychotherapy. Treating persons in Southern Ontario, specifically, in the cultural diversity that exists in Mississauga and the GTA, I could not help but to write this article on one of the topics that interests me greatly as a professional – resettlement, immigration and impacts on mental health.
For the first 100 years of Canadian history, newcomers came to Canadamostly from Europe(Statistics Canada, 2008). In 1960, newcomers were coming from Asia, Africa, Central and South America (Statistics Canada, 2008). Newcomers continue to settle in Canada’s largest cities (Statistics Canada, 2008).
As a result of diverse immigration, identifying and treating mental health concerns may be a challengedue to the differences in languages and cultures.
A study by Kirmayer et al., published in 2011 notes that immigration hasthree phases: pre-migration, migration, post-migration. Each phase has different types of stressors for adults and children, which directly impact mental health.
In the pre-migration phase, there is an overwhelming disruption of routine, loss of social network, social recognition and occupational status as well as profound feelings of separation from family. There is a strong sense of uncertainty about the future.
In the migration phase, the world becomes ambiguous, new and highly unpredictable. The person immigrating becomes a ‘newcomer’ and this is the new identity that he/she/them must learn to integrate as part of daily life. Language becomes the single most important tool to get needs met and if this is a barrier, it can cause tremendous frustration and a feeling of desperation.
During post-migration, the ‘newcomer’ becomes preoccupied with integration, language learning and a worry about the loss of family and the possibility for reunification (Kirmayer, 2011). Fear of unemployment or underemployment fills the mind with questions such as:
-Have I made the right choice?
-What is the right choice, if any exists?
The constant changes between illusions and disillusionment can result in heightened states of anxiety, depression and a risk for other psychiatric conditions (Kirmayer, 2011).
Immigrants and newcomers are less likely to be referred to mental health services (this could be due to many reasons: shortage of time due to long hours of work, language and cultural barriers) (Kirmayer, 2011).
As we celebrate Canada Day, let us stop and think mindfully about the meaning and the load that this day inherently carries for each one of us. For those of us who are Canadian-born for many generations, for those of us who are Canadian children born to immigrant parents who will forever carry the intergenerational experience of resettlement from his/her/their families, for those of us who carry multiple citizenships and for all of the diverse, beautifully chaotic identitiesthat we create with all of its successes, traumas and healing experiences!
Written by: Agustina Jorquera
For access to the above mentioned article:
Kirmayer, L., J., Narasiah, L., Munoz, M., Rashid, M., Ryder, A. G., Guzder, J., Hassan G., Rousseau, C., Pottie, K. (2011). Common mental health problems in immigrants and refugees: general approach in primary care. 183 (12).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3168672/