ABSTRACT
Purpose
Bicultural youths are at higher risk of mental health problems and are less likely to utilize mental health services, yet our knowledge of their mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviours remains limited.
Methods
To fill this gap, the current study explored bicultural youths’ mental health literacy and stigma by conducting semi-structured interviews with 14 Canadian university students in 2021.
Results
Our analysis revealed that bicultural youths may be torn between two worlds: intergenerational tensions between participants assimilated into individualistic Canadian culture and their more collectivist parents meant that they had different cultural perceptions of mental health literacy and stigma. While being caught between these two worlds may be detrimental for bicultural youth, our results also suggested that a trans-cultural factor—celebrities’ mental health journeys—may promote help-seeking behaviour across participants. Furthermore, our study speaks to the ways that unprecedented events such as the COVID-19 pandemic impact mental health literacy among bicultural youth. Our findings might be used by university mental health services to encourage help-seeking among bicultural students.
Conclusion
The acculturation of mental health literacy, stigma, and associated intergenerational differences needs to be considered by university wellness services.
Acknowledgments
This research was facilitated by the second author’s Undergraduate Student Research Award at McMaster University.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Ariel Kwegyir Tsiboe
Ariel Kwegyir Tsiboe is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Health, Aging and Society at McMaster University. He is interested in aged care research, relationships, and qualitative research.
Shruthi Raghuraman
Shruthi Raghuraman is an undergraduate student in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour at McMaster University. Her focus interest lies within the field of psychology, acculturation and qualitative research.
Tara C. Marshall
Tara C. Marshall is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health, Aging and Society at McMaster University. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, her research investigates micro and macro-level influences on close relationships, cultural encounters, and mental health.