scholarly journals A qualitative investigation of mental health in women of refugee background resettled in Tasmania, Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare Hawkes ◽  
Kimberley Norris ◽  
Janine Joyce ◽  
Douglas Paton

Abstract Background Women of Refugee Background (WoRB) are a highly vulnerable population with complex going mental health needs following resettlement. In Australia, there has been a substantial increase in WoRB being resettled in rural and regional locations. Despite this, no research to date has specifically focused on factors contributing to mental distress in WoRB in regional resettlement locations. The current study aimed to address this gap in literature. Methods 21 semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with WoRB and service providers in regional locations of Tasmania, Australia. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed utilising Braun and Clarke (Qual Res Psychol 3(2):77–101, 2006) framework for conducting thematic analysis. Results Thematic analysis revealed that WoRB conceptualised mental health as a pathogenic entity, which significantly influenced their mental health help-seeking behaviours. The findings also highlighted how resettlement to a rural and regional location of Australia may exacerbate many of the factors which contribute to ongoing mental distress in WoRB. Conclusions The findings of the current study build upon existing research which indicates the adverse impacts post-migrations stressors can have on the mental health of individuals of refugee background. Furthermore, this study suggests that the current services and supports available to WoRB resettled in regional locations of Australia are inadequate, and under-resources. These findings are discussed in regard to practical and policy implications which should be addressed to better support the mental health of WoRB resettled in rural and regional locations of Australia.

Author(s):  
Clare Hawkes ◽  
Kimberley Norris ◽  
Janine Joyce ◽  
Douglas Paton

Women of Refugee Background (WoRB) have been repeatedly identified as an extremely vulnerable population. Within an Australian context, WoRB are increasingly resettled to non-metropolitan locations, otherwise known as regional locations. Despite this, to date, no research has focused on the lived experience and challenges associated with the resettlement of WoRB to regional contexts. This study aimed to address this gap in the literature by investigating the resettlement experience of WoRB resettled in Tasmania—a state in Australia classified as a rural and regional location. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a group of 21 individuals (nine WoRB and 12 service providers). Thematic analysis identified four overarching themes—Communication Barriers and Lack of Fluency in English, Challenges Accessing Everyday Basic Needs, Loss of Connection to Culture of Origin and Inability to Access Mainstream Mental Health Services for Help. Participants also highlighted a number of unique gender-related vulnerabilities experienced during resettlement, which were exacerbated in regional locations due to health services being overstretched and under-resourced. Results of the current study are discussed in regard to policy and practical implications, taking into consideration the unique vulnerabilities experienced by WoRB, which, to date, are often overlooked.


Author(s):  
Dr. Rita Dhungel

1026 immigrants and refugees tested positive for HIV (IRLWH) in Canada in 2018 (Haddad, et al, 2019). IRLWH experience discriminatory behaviors because of because of the immigration and HIV status; culturally appropriate supports and resources for IRLWH are lacking. Financial difficulties are experienced by many new immigrants, they may be unable to meet their health care or mental health needs, particularly if they are IRLWH (Chen et al., 2015). Language barriers, loss of social support and a lack of health coverage can impact the ability for IRLWH to access care (Rapid Response Service, 2014). There can be stigma surrounding HIV within the cultural community, impacting the level of support for IRLWH (Rapid Response Service, 2014). IRLWH experience mistreatment by service providers, lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate services, lack of awareness of local programs, unemployment and housing issues in Canada (Chen et al., 2015; Gatteri et al., 2020). To augment the limited extant knowledge on the challenges of IRLWH and based on the implications of a study that claimed the need for a further research exploring the voices of IRLWH using photovoice (Getteri, et.al., 2020), this community based photovoice study was designed with an aim to understand intersectional oppressions experienced by IRLWH across Alberta in general, with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic in particular from determinants of health perspectives. Keywords: Immigrants and Refugees; HIV, Photovoice, Intersectional Violence, Mental Health


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Rogers ◽  
Anya Ahmed ◽  
Iolo Madoc-Jones ◽  
Andrea Gibbons ◽  
Katy Jones ◽  
...  

Rates of homelessness and poor mental health present significant challenges across the globe. In this article, we explore how these intersecting issues have been addressed in Wales through Part 2 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 through a paradigm shift towards a prevention model. This article reports findings from a study (conducted between 2016 and 2018) which evaluated the processes and impacts of the Act against the backdrop of welfare reform and systemic changes taking place in Wales and the UK. Using new evidence, we offer a critical examination of how homelessness prevention policy operates in practice and how social values and power affect policy implementation. We offer new evidence of the translation of policy into practice through the experiences of two stakeholder groups: people with mental health needs and service providers. In doing so, we offer a critique of how policy and practice could be modified to improve outcomes for homeless people with implications for prevention policy in Wales and in other contexts and different welfare regimes.


2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Siebler ◽  
Christopher Goddard

This article reports on a qualitative study of Australian parents’ perceptions of their children's reactions to a military deployment as well as their help-seeking behaviours. Thirty-eight in-depth interviews were conducted with 34 Australian Defence Force (ADF) parents and 33 non-deployed parents (67 participants). Twenty-nine interviews were with couples and nine were with individuals. The findings revealed that this group of children generally fared poorly in terms of physical and mental health, and behavioural outcomes. Children and adolescents had a number of needs which were not identified, assessed or treated, and prevention programmes were reported to be limited. Factors that are associated with positive and negative outcomes from the families’ perspective are outlined. The data showed how developing a deeper understanding of military families’ needs, as well as positive worker–parent relationships, would enhance the therapeutic alliance between parents and service providers. Implications for prevention and intervention approaches in relation to both policy and service delivery are outlined.


2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-150
Author(s):  
Catherine Wiseman-Hakes ◽  
Angela Colantonio ◽  
Hyun Ryu ◽  
Danielle Toccalino ◽  
Robert Balogh ◽  
...  

We present the findings from a one-day, multidisciplinary meeting to gather feedback for an integrated knowledge translation research project addressing the integration of health services and supports for individuals with traumatic brain injury, mental health, and/or addictions; especially those who experience homelessness/vulnerably housed, intersect with the criminal justice system, and are survivors of intimate partner violence. This meeting brought together persons with lived experience, service providers, decision makers, and researchers, who provided feedback that further refined the research methodology and highlighted existing gaps. This event was successful in inviting collaboration, knowledge exchange and dissemination, and advancing an important knowledge-to-action cycle for this research.


2000 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 688-691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gus Norris ◽  
Roy Laube

Objective: Maladaptive help-seeking behaviour in psychiatric patients is a significant problem for public mental health services, yet it is not addressed in the mainstream literature. We present a report on the successful treatment of a person with schizophrenia who displayed this common dilemma for patients and clinicians. Clinical picture: A 31-year-old man with borderline intellectual functioning had a 10-year history of schizophrenia marked by negative features. He frequently presented in crisis to public mental health services, the local hospital, and his general practitioner; this resulted in excessive use of services, including admissions. Treatment: The patient was reassessed from a cognitive-behavioural perspective rather than a syndromal perspective. Specific behaviours were modified, cognitions were identified, challenged and restructured, and other service providers were provided with an alternative to admission or acute community care. Outcome: At 24 months the maladaptive behaviour remains in remission. Conclusions: Behavioural problems in persons with chronic schizophrenia may be effectively treated by reconceptualising the behaviour as distinct from the major diagnosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare Hawkes ◽  
Kimberley Norris ◽  
Janine Joyce ◽  
Douglas Paton

This study aimed to address a significant gap in the literature by investigating how Women of Refugee Background (WoRB) conceptualise resilience and identify factors that WoRB endorse as contributing to their wellbeing and coping during resettlement. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a group of 21 individuals (nine WoRB and 12 service providers). Thematic analysis identified that WoRB struggled to define resilience, with endorsed factors not fitting with current hegemonic Western understandings and theoretical understandings of resilience. The findings also highlighted how religious practice, finding a community and having a sense of meaning and contribution in their daily life were significant coping and wellbeing factors during resettlement, however, were difficult to access in regional resettlement locations. Results of the current study are discussed regarding theoretical and practical implications, taking into consideration the unique vulnerabilities experienced by WoRB resettled in regional locations of Australia.


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