Perceptions and understandings of mental health from three Sudanese communities in Canada

ABSTRACT

As Canada becomes increasingly ethno-culturally diverse, health and human services professionals are challenged to provide mental health services that effectively meet the needs of newcomer populations. Currently, there is a dearth of literature focused on the ways in which members of Sudanese communities in Canada understand or make meaning of the constructs of mental health and illness. The purpose of this article is to explore the perceptions and understandings of mental health and illness through the lens of Southern Sudanese community members in Toronto, Ontario, and Calgary and Brooks, Alberta . Thirty-two in-depth interviews across the three sites were completed using a semi-structured interview guide. Multi-lingual Sudanese research assistants conducted the interviews. Using an inductive data analysis approach, seven major themes emerged related to the focus of the study: Sudanese perceptions and understandings of mental health; social isolation; neglect of personal hygiene; stigma; mental health as multi-dimensional; stress as a cause; and positive mental health. The paper concludes with implications for mental health practitioners.

KEYWORDS:

• Southern Sudanese refugees
• cultural understandings
• mental health
• mental illness

Notes on contributor

Dr. David Este is a professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. His research interests include the integration of immigrants and refugees into Canadian society.

Dr. Laura Simich is Research Director, Immigration and Justice Research at the Vera Institute of Justice in New York City.

Dr. Hayley Hamilton is a scientist with the Institute for Mental Health Policy in Toronto. One of her research interest are the mental health needs of diverse populations including immigrants.

Christa Sato is completing her MSW with the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. Her research is focused on the university experiences of second generation Filipino males.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [grant number 80913].