dr. ahmed munib, phd candidate, supervisors:
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The Effects of Immigration and Resettlement on the Mental Health of South-Asian Communities in Melbourne. Dr. Ahmed Munib, PhD candidate, Supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Harry Minas & Assoc. Prof. Steven Klimidis, Centre for International Mental Health & Department of Psychiatry, - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Dr. Ahmed Munib, PhD candidate, Dr. Ahmed Munib, PhD candidate,
Supervisors:Supervisors:
Assoc. Prof. Harry Minas & Assoc. Prof. Steven Klimidis,Assoc. Prof. Harry Minas & Assoc. Prof. Steven Klimidis,
Centre for International Mental Health & Department of Centre for International Mental Health & Department of
Psychiatry,Psychiatry,
The University of Melbourne.The University of Melbourne.
The Effects of Immigration and Resettlement The Effects of Immigration and Resettlement
on the Mental Health of South-Asian on the Mental Health of South-Asian
Communities in Melbourne.Communities in Melbourne.
South-Asian countries of migrant originSouth-Asian countries of migrant origin
IndiaIndia 29,41429,414
PakistanPakistan 2,794 2,794
BangladeshBangladesh 1,317 1,317
Sri-LankaSri-Lanka 25,96925,969
Australian Bureau of Statistics census data, 2001[statistical local areas for metropolitan Melbourne]
Factors in the home country predisposing to Factors in the home country predisposing to migration from the South Asia regionmigration from the South Asia region
Economic uncertaintyEconomic uncertainty
Low quality of lifeLow quality of life
Lack of higher educational opportunitiesLack of higher educational opportunities
Limited career advancementLimited career advancement
Political and social instabilityPolitical and social instability
Family members/relatives settled overseas Family members/relatives settled overseas
Pre-migration factors affecting settlement outcomePre-migration factors affecting settlement outcome
Age at the time of migrationAge at the time of migration Gender of the immigrantGender of the immigrant Socio-cultural and educational backgroundSocio-cultural and educational background Occupational statusOccupational status Psychological preparation prior to migrationPsychological preparation prior to migration Prior experience of migrationPrior experience of migration History of physical and/or psychiatric illnessHistory of physical and/or psychiatric illness Individual personality traitsIndividual personality traits Family compositionFamily composition Future expectationsFuture expectations Perceptions and attitudes towards the host communityPerceptions and attitudes towards the host community
Post-migration scenario Post-migration scenario (Observations in Bangladesh)(Observations in Bangladesh)
Inadequate social support mechanismsInadequate social support mechanisms Social isolation and cultural alienation Social isolation and cultural alienation Predisposition of anxiety/depressionPredisposition of anxiety/depression Concealment of mental illness due to stigmaConcealment of mental illness due to stigma Impaired coping and adjustmentImpaired coping and adjustment Aggravation of psychiatric problemsAggravation of psychiatric problems Unsuccessful resettlementUnsuccessful resettlement Return to home countryReturn to home country Inadequate/delayed therapeutic interventionInadequate/delayed therapeutic intervention Rehabilitation failureRehabilitation failure Social disabilitySocial disability
Post-migration factors affecting settlement outcomePost-migration factors affecting settlement outcome
Reception by the host communityReception by the host community
Host societies’ attitudes towards immigrantsHost societies’ attitudes towards immigrants
Perceived discriminationPerceived discrimination
Language competencyLanguage competency
Recognition of professional skills and qualificationsRecognition of professional skills and qualifications
Economic stability (job opportunities)Economic stability (job opportunities)
Presence of co-ethnic communitiesPresence of co-ethnic communities
Social networkingSocial networking
Adjustment with individualistic social expectationsAdjustment with individualistic social expectations
Outlines of the Study designOutlines of the Study design
Target group: Target group:
Adult Indian and Bangladeshi Australian permanent residents/citizens Adult Indian and Bangladeshi Australian permanent residents/citizens
located in metropolitan Melbourne. located in metropolitan Melbourne.
Qualitative approachQualitative approach
One-on-one in-depth interviewsOne-on-one in-depth interviews
Number of participants-38Number of participants-38
Selection through community contactsSelection through community contacts
Analysis and extraction of themes utilising NVivo softwareAnalysis and extraction of themes utilising NVivo software
Summary of Research objectivesSummary of Research objectives
Exploration of immigration and resettlement experiences Exploration of immigration and resettlement experiences
among South-Asian migrants, and any association with among South-Asian migrants, and any association with
psychiatric illness, primarily anxiety and depression.psychiatric illness, primarily anxiety and depression.
Investigation of psychosocial protective mechanisms and Investigation of psychosocial protective mechanisms and
common coping strategies.common coping strategies.
Examination of factors relevant to both successful and Examination of factors relevant to both successful and
unsuccessful resettlement, and the effect on psychological unsuccessful resettlement, and the effect on psychological
well-being.well-being.
Cultural profile of study groupCultural profile of study group
Indian communityIndian community Native languages-Hindi as well as Tamil, Gujrati, Bengali.Native languages-Hindi as well as Tamil, Gujrati, Bengali. Predominantly Hindu, some Muslims and ChristiansPredominantly Hindu, some Muslims and Christians Strong religious and South-Asian cultural beliefsStrong religious and South-Asian cultural beliefs Hierarchal social caste system with conservative family valuesHierarchal social caste system with conservative family values Extended social networks with collectivist idealsExtended social networks with collectivist ideals
Bangladeshi communityBangladeshi community Ethnic Bengali, predominantly Muslim. Ethnic Bengali, predominantly Muslim. Strong Islamic identity and Bengali/South-Asian cultural beliefsStrong Islamic identity and Bengali/South-Asian cultural beliefs Conservative family valuesConservative family values Extended social networks with collectivist idealsExtended social networks with collectivist ideals
Both communities in Melbourne comprise mostly skilled migrantsBoth communities in Melbourne comprise mostly skilled migrants
Deductions from case studiesDeductions from case studies(Resettlement difficulties)(Resettlement difficulties)
Regret and self-reproach regarding decision to migrateRegret and self-reproach regarding decision to migrate
Feelings of antagonism towards Australian societyFeelings of antagonism towards Australian society
Anxiety, apprehension and uncertainty about the futureAnxiety, apprehension and uncertainty about the future
Feelings of social isolation and cultural alienationFeelings of social isolation and cultural alienation
Reinforcement of preconceived stereotypes about perceived discriminationReinforcement of preconceived stereotypes about perceived discrimination
Dysfunction in inter-personal relationshipsDysfunction in inter-personal relationships
Adverse impact on psychological well-beingAdverse impact on psychological well-being
Factors affecting emotional well-being in Factors affecting emotional well-being in migrantsmigrants
Inadequate psychological preparation prior to Inadequate psychological preparation prior to
immigrationimmigration
Cultural and linguistic barriersCultural and linguistic barriers
Concealment of mental illness due to stigmaConcealment of mental illness due to stigma
Reluctance to utilize psychiatric services in the host Reluctance to utilize psychiatric services in the host
countrycountry
Preference to seeking psychiatric services in the native Preference to seeking psychiatric services in the native
country country
Themes relating to psychological distressThemes relating to psychological distress
BlameBlame Resentment Resentment RegretRegret RemorseRemorse LonelinessLoneliness HelplessnessHelplessness Low self-esteemLow self-esteem DysphoriaDysphoria AngerAnger AgitationAgitation AntipathyAntipathy ConcealmentConcealment
ResettlementResettlement
Post-settlement adjustment stressPost-settlement adjustment stress
Racial discrimination (impact on the individual)Racial discrimination (impact on the individual)
“…certainly racism in general in Australia has affected me a lot…just from
growing up…the inevitable racism which migrants face…besides superficial
racism at school or in the workplace…subtle discrimination is much harder to
pinpoint because you never know if people are reacting to you for a certain
way…but certainly in terms of overt racism that has always been in the form
of racial abuse or racial slurs or things like that. I would say that…that the
discrimination I have faced has been based on literally the colour of my skin
above anything else.”
- Bangladeshi - Bangladeshi
malemale
Racial discrimination (impact on the family)Racial discrimination (impact on the family)
“…“…because of our colour they treat us differently...which makes me really because of our colour they treat us differently...which makes me really
upset and sometimes my son...he’s in year 11 now...last year he used to say upset and sometimes my son...he’s in year 11 now...last year he used to say
that I wish that I had white skin...I don’t want...like to be a brown boy in the that I wish that I had white skin...I don’t want...like to be a brown boy in the
class”. class”.
-Bangladeshi -Bangladeshi
femalefemale
Role of the familyRole of the family
I don’t think South-Asian families are designed for external intervention…I
just…I think an Anglo family…because of their culture and their acceptance
of…psychiatric or therapeutic intervention, I think they would be much more
comfortable in seeking outside help, but I think there is a great deal of pride
associated with the integrity of the family unit…in South-Asian communities…
and to seek some kind of outside assistance, I think would be a huge admission
of failure…on part of both the family units. So I think ultimately differences
would have to be straightened out by the family”.
- Bangladeshi male- Bangladeshi male
Non-recognition of professional skills
“...we think we have everything and walk over to Australia and we can’t
find a job or something…general kind of people, some are frustrated
because they couldn’t find the placement equal to what they were
doing...some people find it very frustrating because they believe that they
got the highest degree...and they come here and nobody will accept it”.
- Indian - Indian
malemale
Psychological distressPsychological distress
“...I feel I’m like out of my own culture, I don’t belong here, I don’t belong
with my friends...I feel really depressed...I’m having some medication for
depression because it gets really bad and as I told before, now I feel my family
very much. I feel this here the life is so mechanical, you have to follow the same
routine day after day…and I feel like I’m just working like a machine.”
-Bangladeshi female
Cultural incongruityCultural incongruity
“...Australians’ way of life is entirely different from our way, especially from
the subcontinent and their sense of humour is different and how they speak
is different, how they behave, how they react to the...suppose if I say one
thing, a same thing to Indian and Australian, Indian may laugh at that but
Australian don’t understand that. He may think in a different way”.
- -
Indian maleIndian male
Attitudes towards host societyAttitudes towards host society
“ The best thing about Australian society, Australian people is…they feel you…
you know, they make you better. They feel that, they make you feel you know…
very friendly, even a stranger they will talk to you, ‘how are you mate...going
mate’. So you feel comfortable talking with them, get along with them. So that’s
the best thing about Australia you know. They are very friendly even though you
know by heart they may not be very friendly but for day to day conversation, for
the day to day things, for moving around they are friendly.”
- Indian male- Indian male
Successful strategies for copingSuccessful strategies for coping
Social interaction and networking with co-ethnic Social interaction and networking with co-ethnic
communitiescommunities
Co-ethnic social support networks Co-ethnic social support networks
(sharing and discussion of problems)(sharing and discussion of problems)
Spiritual pursuits (eg, meditation, prayer)Spiritual pursuits (eg, meditation, prayer)
Community volunteer activities (eg, charity work)Community volunteer activities (eg, charity work)
Acculturation: interaction with local Australian Acculturation: interaction with local Australian
communitiescommunities
Help-seeking behaviour: family, friends, chaplain, Help-seeking behaviour: family, friends, chaplain,
counsellor, GP, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist.counsellor, GP, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist.
Long-term goals of the study and suggestionsLong-term goals of the study and suggestions
Promote awareness about mental health concerns within Promote awareness about mental health concerns within the South-Asian community in Australia.the South-Asian community in Australia.
Increase awareness within the professional mental Increase awareness within the professional mental health community about South-Asian mental health health community about South-Asian mental health issues.issues.
Emphasizing that help-seeking is culturally acceptable Emphasizing that help-seeking is culturally acceptable and appropriate.and appropriate.
Dispelling the preconceived association of mental illness Dispelling the preconceived association of mental illness with stigma.with stigma.
Social networking is an important buffer for migrants.Social networking is an important buffer for migrants. Resettlement in a new country is psychologically Resettlement in a new country is psychologically
challenging, but does not necessarily predispose to challenging, but does not necessarily predispose to mental illness.mental illness.
Thank YouThank You