Inside: Mental health challenges for newcomers to Canada are common, but can be overcome with support from the government and the community.
Caregivers are not the only ones to experience anxiety; newcomers that are into different careers also face mental health issues of varying levels, but there is always help available.
Mental health support and services are available all over the country though newcomers are not inclined to access them.
Recent Statistics
About 11% of newcomers indicate the need to access mental health services, but have not done so, according to a 2023 study by Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC). In contrast, 56% of newcomers expressed confidence in their knowledge of how to access mental health support, the same study reported.
The fact that more than half of new immigrants are aware there is help available and know how to access them are positive steps in encouraging them to come forward to make use of programs, interventions and services most of which are free of charge.
Majority of community centres nationwide have settlement programs that can also provide mental health support, if not, make appropriate referrals to other government agencies, notably, hospitals, or not-for-profit organizations for interventions to improve mental well being of new immigrants.
Not-for-profit agencies also exist run by immigrants themselves to help the newcomers, such as the Immigrant Services of Nova Scotia, with Carmen Moncayo leading to assist any newcomer with a range of supports including mental health. Moncayo, originally from Colombia, said her association reminds newcomers that what they are experiencing is a completely normal reaction to the feeling of being uprooted.
The health card obtained by newcomers facilitates access to family doctors that can in turn, refer the newcomers to a mental health practitioner. Once the mental health status is assessed, a first step in seeking treatment, the newcomer can then start to benefit from the intervention that can be the main tool for coping with the challenges of a new life where landing jobs and being able to afford decent living in Canada are any newcomer’s priorities.
The social connections, practice of faith and trying to keep cultural lifestyle are other tools that can alleviate new immigrants’ difficulty in navigating the Canadian life. In the long term, by seeking medical interventions, and maintaining the other tools that help, new immigrants can improve mental health outcomes and enjoy a smoother transition.
Approaching these programs and services may be difficult for those new immigrants with cultural and language barriers. But health providers continue to address these barriers.
For example, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has a mental health project for immigrants and refugees that provides culturally sensitive mеntal hеаlth servicеs that recognise and address diverse backgrounds and еxpеriеncеs. What CAMH does is to provide social and health service professionals working with immigrants and refugees with online training, tools and resources to settlement. In recent years, new courses were added and partnerships all over Canada were increased by CAMH to help build the capacity of health and service providers.
The resilience of caregivers and other new immigrants can be astonishing. MHRC also reports Canadians as a whole, demonstrate a relatively higher level of resilience. Over time, newcomers tend to develop increased resilience.
Related post : Let’s Hope All Is Not Lost For Caregivers
What do people do to cope?
The MHRC report says that some participants of the study said they made efforts to integrate by joining online groups. Newcomers tried to meet people from their own home country, particularly at places of worship. Others with family members in Canada said that they felt connected to them, but not to the community at large, the MHRC stated.
Some newcomers already establish contacts with relatives and friends before arriving in Canada. In the Filipino community, this is usually the practice although they still experience mental health challenges once they face the common barriers of getting jobs.
Volunteering is another way of overcoming depression, anxiety and poor mental health for newcomers. If newcomers can try to give time freely towards helping an organization or a cause, it not only contributes to their Canadian work experience, but meeting other people results in many rewards or benefits.
Moving forward
If you happen to have ideas how to overcome anxiety, depression, or any mental health challenge as newcomers, please share in the comments section below. Details and real names should be omitted for confidentiality. These can be shared with your family doctor or any mental health care professional.
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It is great to see that support does exist from both organizations and the government for immigrants and refugees, as moving to a strange country is one of the most stressful things to do, and I think it would be so easy to fall into a depression, especially if things are not working out as you hoped.
Joining online groups and trying to meet others from your country can also be a huge help in getting settled. Having that support can make all the difference.
Hi Michel,
Family support is really important, as well as support from the government and the community.
Church groups are also one of the best go to group, because praying as a community is very effective. If you develop strong faith, you become hopeful and strong to face all challenges.
As you said, being with people from your country is also nice, because you can do activities together, share stories and experiences, laugh together, go camping, etc.
Also, be sure to surround your self with the people who can lift you up.
God bless,
Marita