Newcomers to Canada come from all over the world. They make up 17 percent of the Canadian population (Canadian Mental Health Association). This population consists of individuals leaving their homeland by choice to better their lifestyles; these people are known as immigrants. As well, it consists of refugees who are forced to leave their countries due to unsafe environments.
These conditions may be very stressful for the individual as well as their families, which can cause depression. According to Canadian Mental Health Association, article Immigrants and Refugees it states, “Stresses associated with immigration and resettlement may also put immigrants and refugees at increased risk for developing mental health problems” (Canadian Mental Health Association). Many stresses that immigrants deal with are language barriers, age of migration, losing family, friends and cultural background and as well as access to health care (Canadian Mental Health Association).
Influences that affect the individual such as age of immigrant can reflect back to their mental health status. Older Immigrants face more problems “specifically around isolation, abuse, language, culture and mobility” (Khanlou, 2010). Compared to the youth, older immigrants will face more problems, and the younger age will not experience much change in their mental health (Khanlou, 2010). This is the case because they leave behind fewer memories as older adults, plus the majority of youth migrate with their parents who will be taking on most of the stress. Obstacles that come into play with parents are generally education and employment. Dealing with these stresses can potentially lead to mental health issues (Khanlou, 2010). Having the stress of not being able to get a well-paying job to provide for their family, is very hard on an individual who is coming into a new country.
To help immigrants receive the right care and support, there has been many foundations formed, but one in particular called the CIC (Citizen Immigrant Canada) helps individuals in these cases. This program helps with Jobs and house hunting as well it provides various language training opportunities. It also provides support for those who are being abused; as well many of the services are provided in the individual’s first language (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2003).
Some qualities of each program are:
The LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers) program reduced the language barriers between immigrants. This organizations policy is to provide language assistance to immigrants as well as provide them with knowledge about the Canadian lifestyle (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2003). I believe that this program is a great resource as it helps reduce stress put on immigrants who don’t know the native language. It will also get them involved in the community and this will result in meeting new people and starting to feel at home again.
Another great program is the Host Program which allows the immigrants to shadow a Canadian Citizen for a time being and, while being alongside them, they will learn all about the Canadian ways. It also gives the individual a chance to start learning the language and making new friends and as for the volunteer, they get to learn about other cultures and will also meet a new friend (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2003).
I believe these programs will help minimize stresses that Immigrant and Refugees face when coming to a new country, but I do know that memories will still be apparent. Also I trust that many organizations created to help these individuals, do a great impact on bettering their lives in their new country.
Sara
Citations:
Canadian Mental Health Association.(n.d).Immigrants and Refugees.
Retrieved from:http://www.ontario.cmha.ca/about_mental_health.asp?cID=23054
Canadian Mental Health Association.(2003). Immigrants and Refugees Mental Health.
Retrieved from: http://www.cmha.ca/data/1/rec_docs/505_immigrationEN.pdf
Sara
Citations:
Canadian Mental Health Association.(n.d).Immigrants and Refugees.
Retrieved from:http://www.ontario.cmha.ca/about_mental_health.asp?cID=23054
Canadian Mental Health Association.(2003). Immigrants and Refugees Mental Health.
Retrieved from: http://www.cmha.ca/data/1/rec_docs/505_immigrationEN.pdf
Khanlou,N.(2010). Migrant mental health in Canada1.Canadian Issues.
Retrieved from: http://search.proquest.com/docview/763161581?accountid=14569 
Great post Sara! It is amazing the amount of hardships that immigrants and refugees face when moving into a country foreign to their own. I think the greatest challenge though is the language barrier. For younger ages, being able to speak the dominant language will help them be successful in their education process as well in their future lives in Canada. And for the older adults, it will create more windows of opportunity specifically in employment.
ReplyDelete-Morgan
It is the reality Sara that the immigrants find Canada completely different from what they have heard back to their country. From the very beginning days, they suffer by the lack of job, language, culture shock, etc. that is the reason mostly the older immigrants grow up their mental illness.
ReplyDeleteSubas
Great post Sara. It's good to see that there are programs set out to help immigrants in the problems they may face. It's programs like these that will help prevent immigrants from falling into isolation and there should be more that should be set up.
ReplyDelete- Jody