Event Title
Jumping into the unkown: the stress of female newcomers' adjustment to life in Toronto and their implications for delivering primary mental health care
Description
Following migration to Canada, female newcomers must endure a process of resettlement that often is accompanied by considerable stress, creating vulnerability towards related disorders and mental ill-health. Due to socio-cultural and linguistic barriers, women are more likely than men to experience feelings of isolation and distress during this resettlement process. Therefore, it is important to ensure that mental health care is accessible for them. This study examines sources of mental stress and distress female newcomers experience in adjusting to a new place, Toronto, and to a new health care system. Importantly, this adjustment is framed as a process that occurs over time and place. As part of a larger community-based participatory action research study, this analysis draws upon 30 semi-structured interviews conducted with female newcomers from 4 cultural-linguistic groups. Thematic findings indicate major sources of stress in adjusting to life in Toronto include: navigation, concerns regarding personal safety, adapting to a new lifestyle, and finding and maintaining employment. In adjusting to Canada's health care system, sources of stress include: learning how to access care; not having access to specialists; and adapting to a new culture of care. Conclusions consider implications of these findings for delivering primary mental health care.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
8-3-2008 8:00 AM
Subject - LCSH
Women immigrants--Mental health--Ontario--Toronto; Women immigrants--Health aspects--Ontario--Toronto
End Date
8-3-2008 5:00 PM
Session
Poster Session
Genre/Form
posters
Type
event
Geographic Coverage
Toronto (Ont.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Keywords
Toronto, immigrant, female newcomers, stress, primary mental health care
Jumping into the unkown: the stress of female newcomers' adjustment to life in Toronto and their implications for delivering primary mental health care
Following migration to Canada, female newcomers must endure a process of resettlement that often is accompanied by considerable stress, creating vulnerability towards related disorders and mental ill-health. Due to socio-cultural and linguistic barriers, women are more likely than men to experience feelings of isolation and distress during this resettlement process. Therefore, it is important to ensure that mental health care is accessible for them. This study examines sources of mental stress and distress female newcomers experience in adjusting to a new place, Toronto, and to a new health care system. Importantly, this adjustment is framed as a process that occurs over time and place. As part of a larger community-based participatory action research study, this analysis draws upon 30 semi-structured interviews conducted with female newcomers from 4 cultural-linguistic groups. Thematic findings indicate major sources of stress in adjusting to life in Toronto include: navigation, concerns regarding personal safety, adapting to a new lifestyle, and finding and maintaining employment. In adjusting to Canada's health care system, sources of stress include: learning how to access care; not having access to specialists; and adapting to a new culture of care. Conclusions consider implications of these findings for delivering primary mental health care.