Barriers to Mental Health Help-Seeking Amongst Refugee Men

Abstract

Rates of help-seeking for mental health problems are low amongst refugee communities, despite the high prevalence of PTSD reported amongst these individuals. Research suggests that the key barriers to seeking help for psychological problems include structural barriers (e.g., unstable housing), cultural barriers (e.g., mental health stigma), and barriers specific to refugees and asylum seekers (e.g., visa status). This study examined the effect of structural, cultural and refugee specific barriers on the relationship between PTSD symptom severity and intentions to seek help from professional, social, and community sources. Data was collected from 103 male refugees and asylum seekers with an Arabic-, Farsi-, or Tamil-speaking background. Participants completed measures indexing demographics, trauma exposure, PTSD symptoms, mental health stigma, and help-seeking intentions. Path analyses indicated that PTSD severity was associated with lower help-seeking intentions indirectly via mental health stigma (self-stigma for seeking help and self-stigma for PTSD) and visa security. PTSD severity was also associated with greater help-seeking intentions from community members indirectly via structural barriers. These findings are important to consider when identifying key barriers to mental health help-seeking and developing interventions designed to increase help-seeking for psychological problems, within this group.

Association between stigma and depression among urban refugees in Mbarara Municipality, Southwestern Uganda

“…The high prevalence reported in this study is in line with prior results among other refugee groups. For example higher levels of depression (44%) have been reported among refugees in the U.S. compared to estimates of prevalence in the general population reported to be between 8 and 12% (26). Close et al, (2016) reported higher depression prevalence of 43% among Iraqi refugees, 41% of depression was also reported among Karenni refugees residing along the Burmese-Thai border (27).…”

A social ecological approach to understanding service utilization barriers among male survivors of sexual violence in three refugee settings: a qualitative exploratory study

“…Refugees may prefer to seek help from traditional healers, religious leaders, elders, or community members, particularly for mental health related issues [26,28]. Mental health service utilization may be particularly challenging to promote as psychological problems remain stigmatized among many refugee communities who, in addition, may not be familiar with western therapeutic models [29]. In focus groups, refugees expressed skepticism and apprehension of service providers generally, including concerns about racism and xenophobia.…”

Migrants Are Underrepresented in Mental Health and Rehabilitation Services—Survey and Register-Based Findings of Russian, Somali, and Kurdish Origin Adults in Finland

“…Mounting evidence demonstrates that compared to the population in the country of settlement, migration background increases the risk of mental ill health [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Nevertheless, people of migrant origin face various barriers to accessing healthcare [ 5 , 6 , 7 ], although it is also important to recognize the heterogeneity between and among different migrant groups by country of origin and reason for migration [ 8 ]. Refugees and asylum seekers in particular have been shown to be at a greater risk of poor mental health [ 3 , 9 , 10 ].…”

“…Refugees and asylum seekers in particular have been shown to be at a greater risk of poor mental health [ 3 , 9 , 10 ]. Yet, despite the high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) amongst persons of refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds, help-seeking behavior for psychological problems has consistently been found to be low [ 5 , 11 , 12 ].…”