ARTICLES + ORGANIZATIONS:

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Coalition for Immigrant Mental Health: CIMH works to promote awareness of and access to culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health services through education, advocacy and resource sharing in order to improve and facilitate access to services for those who are undocumented or of mixed status.

https://ourcimh.org/

 

Informed Immigrant: There is a tremendous amount of uncertainty in today’s immigration enforcement environment. Not knowing what you can expect for your future, or the futures of your family and friends, is stressful. The information in this guide provides tips for managing the emotional and spiritual well-being of yourself and others.

https://www.informedimmigrant.com/

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Immigrant Child Health Toolkit: This section of the toolkit addresses mental health considerations for immigrant children and pediatric assessments for children who may need mental health services.

https://www.informedimmigrant.com/resources/immigrant-child-health-toolkit/

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immigrants Rising: Immigrants Rising’s Mental Health Connector provides undocumented young people with psychological support, allowing you to access your strengths and resiliency in order to achieve your personal goals and healing.

https://immigrantsrising.org/mental-health-connector/

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ARTICLES + ORGANIZATIONS (Philadelphia):

Philadelphia Refugee Health collaborative: Formed in September 2010, the Philadelphia Refugee Health Collaborative (PRHC) is a regional coalition consisting of Philadelphia’s three refugee resettlement agencies and eight refugee health clinics. The core mission of the Collaborative is to create an equitable system of refugee health care in the Philadelphia region that ensures a consistently high standard of care for all newly arrived refugees. Each year, PRHC provides domestic health screenings, primary care (including newborn, pediatrics, adult medicine, geriatric, obstetric and gynecologic care) and access to laboratory, radiology and subspecialty services to 800 newly arrived refugees. PRHC also provides ongoing primary care and women’s health services to established refugee patients.

http://philarefugeehealth.org/

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Nationalities Service Center: NSC’s Health and Wellness Program helps refugees, immigrants, asylum seekers and victims of torture connect with needed case management, health care, mental health care, and wellness support. We offer an integrated model of care, matching clients with needed case management, health care, mental health care and wellness support.

https://nscphila.org/promoting-health-and-wellness

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barrier to receiving proper mental health care: LANGUAGE

• Many immigrants don't speak English

• different dialects can complicate translations

 

How we can help:

• Develop more informational campaigns in partnership with local community foreign language media

• Make more foreign language mental health information available in places immigrants frequent (restaurants, social clubs, house of faith, barbers, etc)

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barrier to receiving proper mental health care: STIGMA

• in some immigrant communities, mental health concerns are actively ignored or people are discouraged from seeking help

• Many children of immigrants believe that their mental health needs cannot or should not be validated as their trauma seems trivial compared to what their parents went through. (ThinkGlobalHealth.org) 

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barrier to receiving proper mental health care: LACK OF CULTURAL COMPETENCY

• Cultural upbringing and experiences are minimalized, misunderstood, or dismissed

• Lack of cultural understanding or cultural context

• Faith leaders guide followers to "pray it away"

• Fear of racial profiling or exposing them

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How we can help:

• "Mental health professionals also need culturally competent training on the unique circumstances of children of immigrants and how to help them know how and where to seek support" (ThinkGlobalHealth.org)

• Nurture relationships with faith leaders, as many immigrants turn to their faith leaders before seeking help from a health care provider. Houses of faith can be a great forum to spread mental health information and resources

• "Facilitate affordable and non discriminatory access to care regardless of legal status, ensuring financial coverage of mental health services and care provided" (WHO)

• Provide person-centered care that is respectful of cultural differences

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barrier to receiving proper mental health care: ACCESSIBILITY

• lower access to healthcare due to lower paying jobs without benefits and visa issues as some immigrants are undocumented

• lack of transportation, or financial means to afford public transit

 

How we can help:

• Look to other countries best practices, such as in Norway immigrants can receive assistance with securing employment from a designated government worker, alleviating stress for children and promoting the parents' financial stability

• "Provide clear information on mental health care entitlements and how to receive services (eg. through reception centers community outreach, schools, religious or cultural settings" (WHO)

• "Outreach to at-risk groups (eg. unaccompanied minors, persons with disabilities, persons who identify as LGBTIQ+)" (WHO)

• "Facilitate the engagement of multiple sectors and systems (eg law enforcement, protection, social services and education) to integrate mental health considerations and support and ensure referral and access to mental health services" (WHO)