*Trigger Warning* This article speaks of war, loss/death, and similar traumatic experiences.
At every gathering (pre COVID-19) with my family, adults would sit around, tea in their hand, recalling their memories of life back home in Kabul, Afghanistan. As a child, I only remember hearing bits and pieces of the story – bomb, rocket, attack, Taliban– was very common language within these stories. As I matured, one on one discussions with my parents became more common, anecdotes had more detail, their pain more visible, and it was then that I realized, these are not stories pulled out of a history book – these are their personal experiences that traumatized them deeply and left them with unhealed wounds. From the anguish of living in a war-torn country, to escape, to immigration, then finally life in Canada is a series of events bound to have an impact on one’s mental health. However, arrival to Canada does not end these negative effects as an immigrant life is another challenge on its own. My deep interest in psychology, and a huge mental health awareness campaign occurring in North America caused me to analyze not only their experience, but the general experience of Migrants and Refugees in Canada.
It is vital to note that every immigrant has a different experience depending on various factors such as ethnicity, reason for migrating, family status, social capital, economic capital, etc. Therefore, not all migrants will relate to these assessments. Furthermore, due to cultural differences, immigrants may not exhibit “typical” or “textbook” versions of these mental struggles. For instance, anxiety or depression may be portrayed differently, therefore it can be difficult to detect it. In addition, some cultural norms force a suppression of these feelings, thus adding further difficulty in observing any issues.
Immigration is an integral part of Canada’s economy, society, and culture, making up 21.5% of the total population (Duffin, 2020). With almost a quarter of the population being newcomers, their mental health struggles must be recognized as it is often times overlooked or not understood. Let us explore some of these challenges.
Depression
Depression is a major concern for migrants. According to Statistics Canada, rates of lower socioeconomic status is more common amongst immigrants than Canadian-born (Picot & Lu, 2017). A lower socioeconomic status is associated with higher levels of depression and mental health problems. Furthermore, stress, loneliness, change, and a survival instinct can all bring forth feelings of depression. In addition, loss of friends (death or distance), family, culture, community, and familiarity can enhance depressive episodes. In fact, a study looking at Canadian immigrants stated that 1 in 3 immigrants report emotional problems 2 years post migration (Browne et al., 2017) Parents and single parents have the greatest risk of such issues (Browne et al., 2017). This could be caused by feelings of shame for their financial situation, not being able to provide enough, and the hassle of raising children whilst trying to figure out a new culture.
Anxiety
Anxiety can be further exacerbated by past traumas, PTSD, and survival mode. Survival mode is the constant activation of the Sympathetic Nervous System causing fear and stress due to perceived environmental dangers. Refugees and immigrants with treacherous pasts may experience this even in a safe environment causing anxiety symptoms, distrust of others, etc.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD can occur in any traumatic situation, be it war or a car accident. However, PTSD is heavily associated with soldiers and veterans. Many migrants (my family included), come from the same land that these veterans fought in. The war impacts both sides the battle – the people of the land, and all the soldiers. Thus, many immigrants carry with them stories of war, bloodshed, loss, and grief. PTSD can be dangerous if not cared for; it can vary from mild to severe. Thus, accessing mental health resources should be a priority for those suffering with this.
Mental health is a complicated topic that is vastly different for each individual. The topic of immigration can quickly become political; however, this article is intended to highlight only a small portion of mental health issues targeting the Migrant community in Canada. The immigrant experience is a part of the Canadian experience, thus struggles within these communities must be recognized in society. Being of immigrant status can pose complications; political ideologies against you, ostracization, unfamiliarity, loneliness, double-consciousness, and more. All of these causing or worsening mental health conditions. Therefore, it is vital to understand and support the struggles of newcomers.
When I hear stories from my parents, I become grateful that these stories are only history now – a tale of the past, a different life, a different chapter. But I realize that this is all one book, and the earlier chapters will inevitably impact the later pages of the book.
Mental Health Resources:
- Mental Health Commission of Canada: https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/document/457/improving-mental-health-services-immigrant-refugee-ethno-cultural-and-racialized-groups
- Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Project by CAMH:
- List of other resources available in this link:
https://toronto.cmha.ca/help-for-newcomers/
By: Tahmina Sadat
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