Transcript Resettlement model

The Effects of Immigration and Resettlement
on the Mental Health of South-Asian
Communities in Melbourne.
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Dr. Ahmed Munib, PhD candidate,
Supervisors:
Assoc. Prof. Harry Minas & Assoc. Prof. Steven Klimidis,
Centre for International Mental Health & Department of Psychiatry,
The University of Melbourne.
South-Asian countries of migrant origin
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India
29,414
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Pakistan
2,794
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Bangladesh
1,317
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Sri-Lanka
25,969
Australian Bureau of Statistics census data, 2001
[statistical local areas for metropolitan Melbourne]
Factors in the home country predisposing to
migration from the South Asia region
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Economic uncertainty
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Low quality of life
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Lack of higher educational opportunities
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Limited career advancement
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Political and social instability
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Family members/relatives settled overseas
Pre-migration factors affecting settlement outcome
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Age at the time of migration
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Gender of the immigrant
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Socio-cultural and educational background
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Occupational status
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Psychological preparation prior to migration
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Prior experience of migration
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History of physical and/or psychiatric illness
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Individual personality traits
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Family composition
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Future expectations
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Perceptions and attitudes towards the host community
Post-migration scenario
(Observations in Bangladesh)
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Inadequate social support mechanisms
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Social isolation and cultural alienation
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Predisposition of anxiety/depression
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Concealment of mental illness due to stigma
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Impaired coping and adjustment
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Aggravation of psychiatric problems
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Unsuccessful resettlement
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Return to home country
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Inadequate/delayed therapeutic intervention
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Rehabilitation failure
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Social disability
Post-migration factors affecting settlement outcome
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Reception by the host community
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Host societies’ attitudes towards immigrants
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Perceived discrimination
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Language competency
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Recognition of professional skills and qualifications
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Economic stability (job opportunities)
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Presence of co-ethnic communities
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Social networking
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Adjustment with individualistic social expectations
Outlines of the Study design
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Target group:
Adult Indian and Bangladeshi Australian permanent
residents/citizens located in metropolitan Melbourne.
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Qualitative approach
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One-on-one in-depth interviews
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Number of participants-38
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Selection through community contacts
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Analysis and extraction of themes utilising NVivo software
Summary of Research objectives

Exploration of immigration and resettlement experiences
among South-Asian migrants, and any association with
psychiatric illness, primarily anxiety and depression.

Investigation of psychosocial protective mechanisms and
common coping strategies.
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Examination of factors relevant to both successful and
unsuccessful resettlement, and the effect on psychological
well-being.
Cultural profile of study group
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Indian community
Native languages-Hindi as well as Tamil, Gujrati, Bengali.
Predominantly Hindu, some Muslims and Christians
Strong religious and South-Asian cultural beliefs
Hierarchal social caste system with conservative family values
Extended social networks with collectivist ideals
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Bangladeshi community
Ethnic Bengali, predominantly Muslim.
Strong Islamic identity and Bengali/South-Asian cultural beliefs
Conservative family values
Extended social networks with collectivist ideals
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Both communities in Melbourne comprise mostly skilled migrants
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Deductions from case studies
(Resettlement difficulties)
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Regret and self-reproach regarding decision to migrate
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Feelings of antagonism towards Australian society
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Anxiety, apprehension and uncertainty about the future
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Feelings of social isolation and cultural alienation
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Reinforcement of preconceived stereotypes about perceived
discrimination
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Dysfunction in inter-personal relationships
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Adverse impact on psychological well-being
Factors affecting emotional well-being in migrants
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Inadequate psychological preparation prior to
immigration
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Cultural and linguistic barriers
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Concealment of mental illness due to stigma
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Reluctance to utilize psychiatric services in the host
country
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Preference to seeking psychiatric services in the native
country
Themes relating to psychological distress
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Blame
Resentment
Regret
Remorse
Loneliness
Helplessness
Low self-esteem
Dysphoria
Anger
Agitation
Antipathy
Concealment
Resettlement
Post-settlement adjustment stress
Racial discrimination (impact on the individual)
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“…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 male
Racial discrimination (impact on the family)
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“…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
that I wish that I had white skin...I don’t want...like to be a brown boy in the
class”.
-Bangladeshi female
Role of the family
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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
Non-recognition of professional skills
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“...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 male
Psychological distress
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“...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 incongruity
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“...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 male
Attitudes towards host society
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“ 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
Successful strategies for coping
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Social interaction and networking with co-ethnic
communities
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Co-ethnic social support networks
(sharing and discussion of problems)
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Spiritual pursuits (eg, meditation, prayer)
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Community volunteer activities (eg, charity work)
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Acculturation: interaction with local Australian
communities
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Help-seeking behaviour: family, friends, chaplain,
counsellor, GP, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist.
Long-term goals of the study and suggestions
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Promote awareness about mental health concerns within
the South-Asian community in Australia.
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Increase awareness within the professional mental
health community about South-Asian mental health
issues.
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Emphasizing that help-seeking is culturally acceptable
and appropriate.
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Dispelling the preconceived association of mental illness
with stigma.
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Social networking is an important buffer for migrants.
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Resettlement in a new country is psychologically
challenging, but does not necessarily predispose to
mental illness.
Thank You