A8 promoting positive mental health for immigrants and refugees
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This document summarizes a workshop on promoting positive mental health for immigrants and refugees. It defines key concepts like mental health, mental illness, and health promotion. It outlines factors that influence immigrant and refugee mental health, like socioeconomic status, social support, and traumatic experiences. The document discusses principles of mental health promotion, including empowerment, collaboration, and cultural appropriateness. It also summarizes guidelines from best practice documents on mental health promotion programs for immigrants and refugees.
![Contact Marianne Kobus-Matthews [email_address] Angela Martella [email_address] Branka Agic [email_address]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/a8promotingpositivementalhealthforimmigrantsandrefugees-110729085523-phpapp01/85/A8-promoting-positive-mental-health-for-immigrants-and-refugees-34-320.jpg)
A8 promoting positive mental health for immigrants and refugees
- 1. Promoting Positive Mental Health for Immigrants and Refugees OCASI Professional Development Conference June 20, 2011 Workshop Facilitators: Marianne Kobus-Matthews , Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Angela Martella , Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Workshop Contributor: Branka Agic , Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- 2. Welcome & Introductions Introduce yourself to someone you don’t know Share your name, organization and one thing you do every day at work to promote your own health and well-being
- 3. Session Objectives Review key concepts related to mental health promotion Outline mental health promotion best practices related to immigrants and refugees Describe mental health promotion in action through exemplary programs Apply mental health promotion principles into practice using tools from: Best Practice Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion Programs for Refugees Best Practice Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion Programs for Immigrants
- 4. Mental Health Promotion Key Concepts
- 5. What is mental health? “ ... is the capacity of each and all of us to feel, think, and act in ways that enhance our ability to enjoy life and deal with the challenges we face. It is a positive sense of emotional and spiritual well-being that respects the importance of culture, equity, social justice, interconnections and personal dignity.” Health Canada, 1997
- 6. What is mental illness? Characterized by changes in thinking, mood and behaviour that cause significant distress & impaired functioning (Health Canada, 2002) Mental disorders take many forms, including: Mood disorders Anxiety disorders Psychotic disorders Personality disorders Eating disorders Concurrent Disorders
- 7. What is health promotion? “…a process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health” (WHO, 1986) The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion defines five key health promotion strategies: Build healthy public policy Create supportive environments Strengthen community action Develop personal skills Reorient services toward promotion, prevention & early intervention
- 8. What is mental health promotion? “… the process of enhancing the capacity of individuals and communities to take control over their lives and improve their mental health. Mental health promotion uses strategies that foster supportive environments and individual resilience , while showing respect for culture, equity, social justice, interconnections and personal dignity.” Health Canada, 1997
- 9. Mental health promotion What are some examples of mental health promotion programs from your work or community experience? For more information about mental health promotion at CAMH: http://www.camh.net/About_CAMH/Health_Promotion
- 10. Risk & Protective Factors Risk factors Variables or characteristics associated with an individual that will make it more likely that he or she will develop a problem Protective factors Variables or characteristics associated with an individual that will act as a buffer in the face of adversity, reducing the likelihood that a problem will develop
- 11. Mental Health Promotion with Immigrants and Refugees
- 12. What factors influence the mental health of immigrants and refugees? change in socio-economic status isolation & absence of social support barriers to accessing mental health services health care coverage traumatic life experiences depression post traumatic stress disorder healthy immigrant effect worldviews of health & illness influence of social environment social & family changes stigma resettlement stress issues with acculturation
- 13. Four Corners Go to the corner that best describes your response: Absolutely yes Absolutely no Yes, but… No, but…
- 14. Social Determinants of Health Socio-economic conditions that impact physical & mental health Conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work & age Shaped by distribution of money, power & resources These circumstances are shaped by economics, social policies & politics
- 15. Health Disparities Lack of equitable access to SDOH is associated with inequalities in health status, including poor mental health Big disparities in SDOH among a population increase the magnitude of poor health Reciprocal association: poor mental health is associated with low levels of education, unemployment, low income, adverse life events, and poor physical health
- 16. Reasons to Invest in Mental Health Promotion Positive mental health is a basic human right People who flourish contribute to society Prevalence of mental illness is increasing; growing burden of mental illness cannot be addressed by ‘treating’ one person at a time Disadvantaged populations are disproportionately affected MHP is important to recovery from mental illness Positive mental health is essential for quality of life
- 17. Goals of Mental Health Promotion “ Mental health promotion aims to optimize mental health and wellbeing in communities and thereby in individuals.” ( Neuhauser et al. 1998) Focuses on: Enhancing protective factors for positive mental health Reducing risk factors for poor mental health Influencing some of the broad determinants that contribute to poor mental health
- 18. Principles for Mental Health Promotion Positive conceptualization of mental health Emphasis on meaningful engagement & empowerment-oriented approaches Builds on existing strengths, assets & capacity Collaborative action on DOH, health inequities Multiple interventions across a wide range of sectors, policies, programs, settings Actions informed by evidence & practice Approaches tailored & culturally appropriate (Toward Flourishing for All, 2009)
- 19. Mental health promotion best practice guidelines Project background Purpose: guidelines define best practices for MHP initiatives Based on critical analysis of literature reviews Segmented populations of interest by life stage and context 1 st guide addresses MHP for children & youth 2 nd guide addresses MHP for older people 55+ 3 rd & 4 th guides address MHP for refugees and immigrants
- 20. Mental health promotion best practice guidelines E-guides include: Best practice guidelines with supporting theory A worksheet to help plan and implement mental health promotion initiatives (including a sample worksheet*) Exemplary programs that have demonstrated the application of best practice guidelines for specified population Relevant websites , a glossary of words commonly used in mental health promotion and references
- 21. Mental health promotion best practice guidelines: Refugees Guideline #1: Identify the status & experiences of members of the refugee population legal status; stage of claimant process if applicable exposure to traumatic events physical health & mental health needs support networks how, when & where to reach
- 22. Mental health promotion best practice guidelines: Immigrants Guideline #1: Identify and address the immigrant population, their level of acculturation and their cultural affiliations level of acculturation: integration assimilation separation marginalization physical health & mental health needs how, when & where to reach
- 23. Mental health promotion best practice guidelines: Immigrants & Refugees Guideline #2: Continually involve individuals from the refugee / immigrant population through meaningful community involvement Guideline #3: Address & modify protective factors (including DOH) that can protect against mental health concerns for immigrants & refugees Guideline #4: Address & modify risk factors (including DOH) that could lead to mental health concerns for immigrants & refugees
- 24. Mental health promotion best practice guidelines: Immigrants & Refugees Guideline #5: Reduce negative attitudes about mental illness within the community Guideline #6: Intervene in multiple setting using culturally appropriate approaches Guideline #7: Support both professionals & non-professionals in establishing respectful, caring and trusting relationships with immigrants & refugees
- 25. Mental health promotion best practice guidelines: Immigrants & Refugees Guideline #8: Focus on individual resilience, skill-building, self-efficacy and community capacity building Guideline #9: Provide comprehensive support systems that are easily accessible & culturally competent Guideline #10: Ensure that information & services provided are culturally appropriate, holistic and accessible
- 26. Mental health promotion best practice guidelines: Immigrants & Refugees Guideline #11: Involve multiple stakeholders Guideline #12: Address opportunities for structural and organizational change, policy development and advocacy Guideline #13: Demonstrate a long-term commitment to the development & evaluation of culturally-relevant programs
- 27. Outcome & Process Indicators Outcome indicators: measure how well your initiative is accomplishing the intended results Process indicators: measure how well you are running your activities
- 28. Outcome Indicators List of policies introduced at the community level that reduce unemployment inequities for refugees / immigrants Policy change % of immigrants / refugees who report being able to read, write & speak English better since their arrival Building skills % of services available to immigrants / refugees that are culturally relevant Changing a DOH % of refugees / immigrants reporting experiences of discrimination Changing a risk factor Possible outcome indicator Initiative type
- 29. Process Indicators Process indicators track how much you are doing & how well people like it. Examples: Number of people who attended training sessions Number of times your organization offered diversity & equity training to staff/volunteers Number/variety of people from the refugee / immigrant community who have collaborated with your organization to improve their own or others’ mental health Participants’ satisfaction rating of your training session(s) (CAMH, 2011)
- 30. Small group work Review scenario provided (embellish as you wish) population; risk & protective factors, DOH; setting Pick a guideline from the hat Using the worksheet find your guideline in the first column elaborate on the strategies and activities necessary in order to implement this guideline into practice Report back to larger group
- 31. Your turn… Tell us about an initiative that promotes positive mental health amongst immigrants & refugees
- 33. It’s like being at a wedding!! For complimentary copy of the guide…
- 34. Contact Marianne Kobus-Matthews [email_address] Angela Martella [email_address] Branka Agic [email_address]