What is known about mental health needs of the post-European Union accession Polish immigrants in the UK? A systematic review

ABSTRACT

Migration has been associated with distress and severe mental health problems among a range of populations around the world, including the Polish people. Poles are currently the largest immigrant population in the UK and, despite these statistics, little is still known about mental health needs of this group. This study adopted a systematic review design to explore the existing literature in the area. Five electronic databases were searched with eight studies meeting the inclusion criteria. These studies were analysed by means of thematic synthesis. Three main themes were observed in these studies: (1) The negative mental health aspects of migration – this included frustration and multiple stresses; language difficulties; financial hardship; discrimination and isolation; unfamiliarity with the culture; cultural stigma and shame; 2) The positive mental health aspects of migration – comprised of freedom and new opportunities; and (3) Coping – this incorporated personal traits; social capital; and culture as well as individual differences. Current findings support broader literature into migrant stress and highlight a range of mental health needs of the studied population. The discursive component of this paper considers the implications for professionals working with this group and highlights the need for more specific research in this area.

KEYWORDS:

• Polish post-accession migrants
• mental health
• systematic review
• United Kingdom
• migration
• psychological wellbeing

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Kasia E Maciagowska is a trainee counselling psychologist at the University of Manchester, UK. Her research interests include mental health and migration, with a particular focus on the Polish immigrant population in the UK.

Terry Hanley is the Programme Director of the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology at the University of Manchester, UK. He is also joint editor of the The SAGE Handbook of Counselling and Psychotherapy (4th edition with Colin Feltham and Laura Winter) and his research interests include training applied psychologists to be mindful of how cultural differences impact upon therapeutic work.