Assessing the barriers regarding Canada`s labour market policies and their impact on Caribbean immigrants in the skill-trade sector

Many racialized immigrants, particularly Caribbean immigrants, leave their countries in hope of attaining a better life in Canada. In addition, skilled immigrants are lured to Canada by an aggressive immigration policy which promotes the notion that there is potential for immigrants to improve their lives and succeed as well rounded citizens who contribute to the Canadian society (Teelucksingh and Galabuzi, 2005). However, when many racialized immigrants try to enter the Canadian labour market, they face various challenges which sometimes continue after finding employment. This study will address the concerns relating to the barriers that Canadian labour market policies can present in the labour market, and the ways in which some Caribbean immigrants understand the policies, and experience its impact through systemic barriers. With the use of interviews by key informants from the Caribbean community, this paper seeks to explore the ways in which some racialized immigrants are acutely affected by Canada’s labour market policies.

Assessing the barriers regarding Canada`s labour market policies and their impact on Caribbean immigrants in the skill-trade sector

Many racialized immigrants, particularly Caribbean immigrants, leave their countries in hope of attaining a better life in Canada. In addition, skilled immigrants are lured to Canada by an aggressive immigration policy which promotes the notion that there is potential for immigrants to improve their lives and succeed as well rounded citizens who contribute to the Canadian society (Teelucksingh and Galabuzi, 2005). However, when many racialized immigrants try to enter the Canadian labour market, they face various challenges which sometimes continue after finding employment. This study will address the concerns relating to the barriers that Canadian labour market policies can present in the labour market, and the ways in which some Caribbean immigrants understand the policies, and experience its impact through systemic barriers. With the use of interviews by key informants from the Caribbean community, this paper seeks to explore the ways in which some racialized immigrants are acutely affected by Canada’s labour market policies.

Tracing the occupational integration of internationally trained medical doctors of African descent

While Canadian schools are not producing enough medical doctors there is a surplus of immigrant medical doctors who are well equipped and eager to practice. Internationally trained medical doctors have increasingly experience difficulties in finding jobs that reflects their medical training and expertise. This research investigates the occupational integration of internationally trained medical doctors of African descent. Using snowball sampling and convenience sampling methods I interviewed 12 participants. Their experiences show why many internationally trained medical doctors end up in other fields after they try to practice medicine in Canada. Participants most often noted issues of lack of knowledge about the process, limited residency positions, lack of requirement consistency and lack of guidance. This study is expected to add to our understanding of internationally trained immigrant doctors’ path to successful or different medical occupation and the effectiveness of policies and practices that aim to help these professionals. Key words: internationally trained medical doctors; occupational integration; employment; African and Caribbean immigrants in Ontario.

Tracing the occupational integration of internationally trained medical doctors of African descent

While Canadian schools are not producing enough medical doctors there is a surplus of immigrant medical doctors who are well equipped and eager to practice. Internationally trained medical doctors have increasingly experience difficulties in finding jobs that reflects their medical training and expertise. This research investigates the occupational integration of internationally trained medical doctors of African descent. Using snowball sampling and convenience sampling methods I interviewed 12 participants. Their experiences show why many internationally trained medical doctors end up in other fields after they try to practice medicine in Canada. Participants most often noted issues of lack of knowledge about the process, limited residency positions, lack of requirement consistency and lack of guidance. This study is expected to add to our understanding of internationally trained immigrant doctors’ path to successful or different medical occupation and the effectiveness of policies and practices that aim to help these professionals. Key words: internationally trained medical doctors; occupational integration; employment; African and Caribbean immigrants in Ontario.

Social Defeat, Psychotic Symptoms, and Crime in Young Caribbean Immigrants to Rotterdam

Background: The negative experience of being excluded from the majority group (social defeat) may be associated with psychosis in immigrants. The social defeat hypothesis is supported by the high frequency of perceived discrimination and acculturation problems in psychotic immigrants. In addition, social defeat may lead to crime through social problems such as unemployment, school dropout, a broken family structure, or psychotic symptoms.Methods: We assessed the association between social defeat and acculturation on the one hand and broadly defined psychotic symptoms and crime on the other in Caribbean immigrants to Rotterdam who are aged 18–24 years. The municipality of Rotterdam provided data about Caribbean immigrants to Rotterdam. Acculturation, social defeat (perceived discrimination, sense of control, and evaluation of self and others), psychotic symptoms, and crime were assessed using online questionnaires.Results: Social defeat was associated with psychotic symptoms in women (β = 0.614, p < 0.001). This relation applied particularly to the negative self-perception domain of social defeat. Acculturation was associated with neither social defeat nor psychotic symptoms or crime and did not mediate the association between social defeat and psychosis.Conclusion: The social defeat hypothesis of psychosis may be gender-specific valid but does not extend to crime.

Expanding Opportunities for American Descendants of Slavery to Build a More Inclusive and Diverse Global Health Workforce

Historically, the terms African American and Black have been used interchangeably to describe any person with African ancestry living in the United States. However, Black Americans are not a monolith, and legitimate differences exist between those with generational roots in the United States and either African or Caribbean immigrants. American descendants of slavery (ADOS) are underrepresented in many fields, but I have noticed during my decades long career in global health that they are acutely absent in this field. Here, I offer seven recommendations to improve recruitment, retention, and advancement of ADOS in the global health field. Immediate implementation of these recommendations will not only bring diverse perspectives and immense capacity to the field but also allow ADOS an opportunity to engage in compelling and meaningful work and to collaborate with those from their ancestral homelands.