MINDING HISTORIES: EXPLORING EARLY EXPERIENCES OF MIGRATION, SETTLEMENT AND WELLBEING THROUGH LIFE HISTORIES OF MIGRANTS RESIDING IN THE LONDON BOROUGH OF BEXLEY

Abstract

This article reports on oral history interviews undertaken with migrants residing in the London Borough of Bexley from the 1950s onwards. It focuses on the significance of early migration and settlement on their mental wellbeing. The findings reflect the diversity of Bexley’s communities and highlight some of the unique experiences that impacted on mental wellbeing for participants. Significantly this project has had important educational benefits, giving the people of Bexley the opportunity to speak out about their experiences, thereby generating awareness in public attitudes towards the complex issues of mental wellbeing and migration.

Mind in Bexley and Minding Histories would like to thank those who participated in telling their story. We would also like to extend our thanks to all the volunteers for their invaluable contributions. Furthermore we would like to acknowledge the work undertaken at different stages throughout the project by Ruth Meyerowitz, Carmel King, Ann-Marie Briscombe, and Charu Bassi. Finally we would like to acknowledge the support of the Heritage Lottery who funded the project.

Notes

* Commissioned by the Heritage Lottery, this article reports on oral history2 interviews undertaken with migrants who resided in the Outer London Borough of Bexley from the 1950s onward. The study arose from a consultation by the mental health3 voluntary sector organization, Mind in Bexley, with local Vietnamese and Chinese residents, undertaken in February 2008. This suggested that these groups face multiple forms of disadvantage including isolation, poverty and high unemployment, which was reported as impacting on mental wellbeing. It was highlighted that there remains little data on the settlement and adaptation experiences of migrant communities in Bexley, particularly in respect of mental wellbeing and distress. We thus became interested in individual stories of migration, how people had adapted to a new country and culture, what obstacles were encountered and how these had been overcome. Above all, we wanted to better understand what impact migration and settlement in the UK had on mental wellbeing. To this end, Mind in Bexley submitted a funding application to the Heritage Lottery and was awarded a grant for the ‘Minding Histories’ project. Work began in April 2009 and the project was completed by October 2010·4 During the project, various qualitative data was collected, including photographs and archival documents. The findings reported here are from the oral history data with a focus on participants’ experiences of the early stages of the migration and settlement process. The findings and discussion sections of this article have been merged due to the qualitative and informative nature of the research findings. Individual ‘voices’ narrate stories, express opinion, and so contribute to the ongoing discourse within migration studies. The equitable nature of oral history, which values individual subjective knowledge, supports the incorporation of the findings into the discussion and allows them to give validity in the debate and analysis. The qualitative data provided in-depth insights into the phenomena under consideration and saw themes emerge. Participants represented multiple migrant communities and spanned a range of ages and educational levels. Despite the passage of time, they commonly had a vivid recollection of their initial and early experiences in the UK. Their voices aid historians and the wider community in gaining a better understanding of past migration and settlement experiences.

1 The 1971 Act brought the complete cessation of immigration except for those who were ‘patrials’, that is people with close British connections through birth or descent, with no exemptions for commonwealth citizens. The 1981 Act went further by greatly restricting the entry of dependents of people resident in Britain.

2 Individual oral history interviews formed the main method of data collection, although the wider project also draws on visual and textual documents. The narrators’ stories represented what they wanted to tell. This was shaped by myriad factors including personal and external events, anxieties, societal norms and expectations, gender roles, as well as unconscious factors relating to identity, integration and discrimination. Some responded to issues of racism, discrimination and mental health with unease and avoided the topics whilst others concentrated on them. Some of the stories and themes arising from the interviews are interwoven throughout this article. Where possible, we have acknowledged differences within communities whilst recognizing common experiences of relative poverty, discrimination and the stresses of migration.

3 The concept of mental health and wellbeing is hotly contested. (Meltzer et al. 2000). For this paper, the term mental wellbeing refers to a dynamic state in which an individual is able to develop their potential, work productively and creatively, build strong and positive relationships with others and contribute to their community (Jenkins et al. 2008). It is enhanced when an individual is able to fulfill their personal and social goals and achieve a sense of purpose in society (Jenkins et al. 2008).

4 An advisory group was established and relationships were developed with BME communities and networks throughout the Borough. A team of staff and local volunteers were provided with training in oral history research methods and subsequently undertook interviews with over sixty residents.