How Are Non-Medical Settlement Service Organizations Supporting Access to Healthcare and Mental Health Services for Immigrants: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Following resettlement in high-income countries, many immigrants and refugees experience barriers to accessing primary healthcare. Local non-medical settlement organizations, such as the Local Immigration Partnerships in Canada, that support immigrant integration, may also support access to mental health and healthcare services for immigrant populations. This scoping review aims to identify and map the types and characteristics of approaches and interventions that immigrant settlement organizations undertake to support access to primary healthcare for clients. We systematically searched MEDLINE, Social Services Abstracts, CINAHL, and PsycInfo databases from 1 May 2013 to 31 May 2021 and mapped research findings using the Social-Ecological Model. The search identified 3299 citations; 10 studies met all inclusion criteria. Results suggest these organizations support access to primary healthcare services, often at the individual, relationship and community level, by collaborating with health sector partners in the community, connecting clients to health services and service providers, advocating for immigrant health, providing educational programming, and initiating community development/mobilization and advocacy activities. Further research is needed to better understand the impact of local non-medical immigrant settlement organizations involved in health care planning and service delivery on reducing barriers to access in order for primary care services to reach marginalized, high-need immigrant populations.

What works to support better access to mental health services (from primary care to inpatients) for minority groups to reduce inequalities? A rapid evidence summary

“…Nineteen systematic reviews (Aggarwal et al 2016, Anderson et al 2015, Arundell et al 2021, Bhui et al 2015, Castellanos et al 2019, Degnan et al 2018, Ellis et al 2022, Giebel et al 2015, Hernandez Robles et al 2018, Interian et al 2013, Iqbal et al 2022, Lee-Tauler et al 2018, Li et al 2023, McFadden et al 2018, Moffat et al 2009, Moore 2018, Sass et al 2009, Soltan et al 2022, Taylor et al 2023), seven scoping reviews (Apers et al 2023, Handtke et al 2019, Hynie et al 2023, Place et al 2021, Ratnayake et al 2022, Rogers et al 2020, Thomson et al 2015), one mapping review 3 (Arundell et al 2020), three narrative review (Griner and Smith et al 2006, Kalibatseva and Leong 2014, Mukadam et al 2013), two overviews of reviews (Rathod et al 2018, Uphoff et al 2020), one scoping review of reviews (Chakanyuka et al 2022) and four protocols (Aslam et al 2018, Stockwell and Roche 2022, Wang and Kim 2019, Wood et al 2023) were identified across the literature searches of bibliographic databases. The detail from each of these reviews is reported in Table 2.…”

“…Findings from the scoping review by Ratnayake et al (2022) showed that local non-medical immigrant settlement organisations had established approaches and interventions to support immigrants access to primary healthcare services , with most studies showing that mental health support was an important component. These included connecting to healthcare services and / or collaborating with health sector institutions; providing health promotion programs; undertaking community capacity-building and policy advocacy activities and providing on the ground assistance.…”

“…The accessibility (affordability, availability/accommodation, appropriateness and acceptability) of virtual mental healthcare interventions and assessments for refugee and immigrant groups of all ages globally across multiple countries and settings (Hynie et al 2023). Mapping the interventions to increase migrants’ care-seeking behaviour in high-income countries for stigmatised conditions with a primary focus on mental health (Place et al 2021). Mapping the types and characteristics of approaches and interventions that non-medical local immigrant settlement organisations undertake to support access to primary healthcare and mental health services for immigrants over 16 years of age in high-income countries (Canada, USA, Australia) (Ratnayake et al 2022). Models of care in pregnancy and the first 12 months postpartum in migrant and refugee women living in high income countries, including but not limited to mental health care (Rogers et al 2020).…”

“…• Mapping the types and characteristics of approaches and interventions that nonmedical local immigrant settlement organisations undertake to support access to primary healthcare and mental health services for immigrants over 16 years of age in high-income countries (Canada, USA, Australia) (Ratnayake et al 2022).…”