African immigrant parents’ perspectives on the factors influencing their children’s mental health
Abstract
African immigrant children experience some of the poorest mental health outcomes in Canada, yet limited research on their menta health determinants exist. This study explored parents’ perspectives of the factors influencing the mental health of African immigrant children in Alberta, Canada. Parents identified racial discrimination, limited mental health awareness, limited access to mental health supports, changing family dynamics, parental absenteeism, and unresolved pre-migration trauma as factors influencing their children’s mental health. These factors were perceived as contributing to children’s experiences of material deprivation, social problems, and emotional difficulties. The findings suggest that interventions to enhance the mental health of African immigrant children must target transformation of the family, community, and cultural systems within which their lives are embedded, as well as the policies and institutions that produce and reproduce child mental health vulnerabilities.
Notes
Community organizations: n/a
Future research / gaps identified:
Research the perspective of the children themselves, rather than just their parents.
Integration timeline: 8 years or less post-arrival
Key findings:
African immigrant parents shared 6 themes that they perceived as mental health determinants for their children:
1) Racism
2) Limited mental health awareness
3) Limited access to mental health supports
4) Changing family dynamics
5) Parental absence
6) Trauma
Key recommendations:
1) Address income inequities for African immigrant families (e.g. improve credential recognition in Canada).
2) Create early intervention mental health programs in schools that also address racism and racial profiling.
3) Advocate for policy improvements regarding mental health access, trauma-informed care, income equity and gender equity.
Location: Alberta, not otherwise specified
Open access: No
Key populations: African immigrant parents in Alberta who had at least 1 child that was 18 years old or younger