Research Article
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A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON NEEDS AND BARRIERS TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE SERVICE ACCESS BY REFUGEE WOMEN IN WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA

Year 2020, , 276 - 293, 25.12.2020
https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.798280

Abstract

The world refugee crisis is currently at a record level. Refugees have an increased risk of developing mental illness like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and somatic symptoms because of their exposure to violence. Despite increased healthcare needs, refugees face considerable barriers in accessing services. Women refugees may have unique mental healthcare needs due to their vulnerability to gender-based violence and abuse during flight from war. This study explores the mental healthcare need, availability of support and barriers in accessing services among Syrian refugee women in Winnipeg. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine refugee women and six service providers/decision makers. The data were analyzed using a qualitative thematic approach aided by NVivo 12 qualitative software. The most cited barriers in accessing mental healthcare services were language, weather, unemployment, stigma, system navigation, different understandings of mental health and illness, and lack culturally competent care. Results from this study can inform decision makers of issues requiring policy responses to improve mental healthcare for refugee women in Manitoba.

Supporting Institution

The University of Manitoba, the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), Manitoba Training Program (MTP) for Health Services Research

References

  • UNHCR, “Figures at a Glance,” United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.unhcr.org/figures-at-a-glance.html. [Accessed: 25-Mar-2020].
  • IRCC, “Welcoming 25,000 Syrian refugees in 100 days,” Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/welcome-syrian-refugees/how.html. [Accessed: 17-Apr-2020].
  • IRCC, “WelcomeRefugees : Key figures Welcomed in Canada,” Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/welcome-syrian-refugees/key-figures.html. [Accessed: 11-Apr-2020].
  • G. Hassan et al., “Culture , Context and the Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Syrians,” Geneva, 2015.
  • A. Pavli and H. Maltezou, “Health problems of newly arrived migrants and refugees in Europe,” J. Travel Med., vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 1–8, 2017.
  • L. Awuah-mensah, “Examining the Experiences of Government Assisted Refugee Women with Settlement Services in Kitchener-Waterloo (Master’s thesis).,” Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada, 2016.
  • O. Sherzoi, “Photovoice: Exploring Immigrants and Refugees’ Perceptions and Access to Mental Health Services in Winnipeg (Master’s thesis).,” University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, 2017.
  • M. McKeary and B. Newbold, “Barriers to care: The challenges for Canadian refugees and their health care providers,” J. Refug. Stud., vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 523–545, 2010.
  • C. Sullivan, “Responding to the Complex and Gendered Needs of Refugee Women,” Affil. J. Women Soc. Work, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 272–284, 2009.
  • S. Edge and B. Newbold, “Discrimination and the health of immigrants and refugees: Exploring Canada’s evidence base and directions for future research in newcomer receiving countries,” J. Immigr. Minor. Heal., vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 141–148, 2013.
  • M. Delara, “Social determinants of women’ s mental health,” J. Psychosom. Res., vol. 63, pp. 223–224, 2010.
  • T. T. Donnelly, J. J. Hwang, D. Este, C. Ewashen, C. Adair, and M. Clinton, “If I Was Going to Kill Myself, I Wouldn’t Be Calling You. I am Asking for Help: Challenges Influencing Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Mental Health,” Issues Ment. Health Nurs., vol. 32, no. 5, pp. 279–290, 2011.
  • M. S. Thomson, F. Chaze, U. George, and S. Guruge, “Improving Immigrant Populations’ Access to Mental Health Services in Canada: A Review of Barriers and Recommendations,” J. Immigr. Minor. Heal., vol. 17, no. 6, pp. 1895–1905, 2015.
  • J. Cho, “Exploring the Health and Health Care Experiences of Refugee and Refugee Claimant Women in Hamilton, Ontario: A Qualitative Study,” McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, 2012.
  • IRCC, “Annual report to parliament on Immigration, 2012-2017.,” Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals.html. [Accessed: 28-Mar-2020].
  • Government of Manitoba, “Province announces new provincial health organization with a focus on patient-centered planning [Press release].,” Government of Manitoba, news release, Winnipeg, 28-Jun-2017.
  • Government of Manitoba, “Province awards contract to develop mental health and addiction strategy [Press release].,” Government of Manitoba, news release, Winnipeg, 03-May-2017.
  • S. Kavanagh and J. Marcoux, “Province plans to cut civil service by 8% following release of KPMG fiscal review,” CBC, Winnipeg, 03-Oct-2017.
  • WRHA, “Optimizing The Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing of Immigrants and Refugees in Winnipeg : A Conceptual Framework,” Winnipeg, 2014.
  • Manitoba Labour and Immigration, “Manitoba Immigration Facts - 2014 Statistical Report,” 2015.
  • 211 Manitoba, “BridgeCare Clinic,” 2018. [Online]. Available: http://mb.211.ca/program-at-site/bridgecare-clinic-at-downtown-community-office-elgin-ave-site/. [Accessed: 19-Mar-2020].
  • Personal-Communication, “Discussions with the staff. Bridge Care Primary Care Clinic.” Winnipeg, 2019.
  • B. Vasilevska, “Refugee Mental Health Practices in Canada: A Review of the Literature,” 2010.
  • H. M. Asaam, “Mental Health and Well-being of Refugees to Canada: A Brighter Future (Master’s Thesis).,” University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, 2015.
  • D. Silove, P. Ventevogel, and S. Rees, “The contemporary refugee crisis: an overview of mental health challenges,” World Psychiatry, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 130–139, 2017.
  • V. Braun and V. Clarke, “Using thematic analysis in psychology Using thematic analysis in psychology,” Qual. Res. Psychol., vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 77–101, 2006.
  • M. Vaismoradi, H. Turunen, and T. Bondas, “Content analysis and thematic analysis: Implications for conducting a qualitative descriptive study,” Nurs. Heal. Sci., vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 398–405, 2013.
  • Y. S. Lincoln and E. G. Guba, Naturalistic inquiry. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, Inc., California, USA, 1985.
  • weather.com, “Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Monthly Weather,” 2020.
Year 2020, , 276 - 293, 25.12.2020
https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.798280

Abstract

References

  • UNHCR, “Figures at a Glance,” United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.unhcr.org/figures-at-a-glance.html. [Accessed: 25-Mar-2020].
  • IRCC, “Welcoming 25,000 Syrian refugees in 100 days,” Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/welcome-syrian-refugees/how.html. [Accessed: 17-Apr-2020].
  • IRCC, “WelcomeRefugees : Key figures Welcomed in Canada,” Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/welcome-syrian-refugees/key-figures.html. [Accessed: 11-Apr-2020].
  • G. Hassan et al., “Culture , Context and the Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Syrians,” Geneva, 2015.
  • A. Pavli and H. Maltezou, “Health problems of newly arrived migrants and refugees in Europe,” J. Travel Med., vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 1–8, 2017.
  • L. Awuah-mensah, “Examining the Experiences of Government Assisted Refugee Women with Settlement Services in Kitchener-Waterloo (Master’s thesis).,” Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada, 2016.
  • O. Sherzoi, “Photovoice: Exploring Immigrants and Refugees’ Perceptions and Access to Mental Health Services in Winnipeg (Master’s thesis).,” University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, 2017.
  • M. McKeary and B. Newbold, “Barriers to care: The challenges for Canadian refugees and their health care providers,” J. Refug. Stud., vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 523–545, 2010.
  • C. Sullivan, “Responding to the Complex and Gendered Needs of Refugee Women,” Affil. J. Women Soc. Work, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 272–284, 2009.
  • S. Edge and B. Newbold, “Discrimination and the health of immigrants and refugees: Exploring Canada’s evidence base and directions for future research in newcomer receiving countries,” J. Immigr. Minor. Heal., vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 141–148, 2013.
  • M. Delara, “Social determinants of women’ s mental health,” J. Psychosom. Res., vol. 63, pp. 223–224, 2010.
  • T. T. Donnelly, J. J. Hwang, D. Este, C. Ewashen, C. Adair, and M. Clinton, “If I Was Going to Kill Myself, I Wouldn’t Be Calling You. I am Asking for Help: Challenges Influencing Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Mental Health,” Issues Ment. Health Nurs., vol. 32, no. 5, pp. 279–290, 2011.
  • M. S. Thomson, F. Chaze, U. George, and S. Guruge, “Improving Immigrant Populations’ Access to Mental Health Services in Canada: A Review of Barriers and Recommendations,” J. Immigr. Minor. Heal., vol. 17, no. 6, pp. 1895–1905, 2015.
  • J. Cho, “Exploring the Health and Health Care Experiences of Refugee and Refugee Claimant Women in Hamilton, Ontario: A Qualitative Study,” McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, 2012.
  • IRCC, “Annual report to parliament on Immigration, 2012-2017.,” Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals.html. [Accessed: 28-Mar-2020].
  • Government of Manitoba, “Province announces new provincial health organization with a focus on patient-centered planning [Press release].,” Government of Manitoba, news release, Winnipeg, 28-Jun-2017.
  • Government of Manitoba, “Province awards contract to develop mental health and addiction strategy [Press release].,” Government of Manitoba, news release, Winnipeg, 03-May-2017.
  • S. Kavanagh and J. Marcoux, “Province plans to cut civil service by 8% following release of KPMG fiscal review,” CBC, Winnipeg, 03-Oct-2017.
  • WRHA, “Optimizing The Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing of Immigrants and Refugees in Winnipeg : A Conceptual Framework,” Winnipeg, 2014.
  • Manitoba Labour and Immigration, “Manitoba Immigration Facts - 2014 Statistical Report,” 2015.
  • 211 Manitoba, “BridgeCare Clinic,” 2018. [Online]. Available: http://mb.211.ca/program-at-site/bridgecare-clinic-at-downtown-community-office-elgin-ave-site/. [Accessed: 19-Mar-2020].
  • Personal-Communication, “Discussions with the staff. Bridge Care Primary Care Clinic.” Winnipeg, 2019.
  • B. Vasilevska, “Refugee Mental Health Practices in Canada: A Review of the Literature,” 2010.
  • H. M. Asaam, “Mental Health and Well-being of Refugees to Canada: A Brighter Future (Master’s Thesis).,” University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, 2015.
  • D. Silove, P. Ventevogel, and S. Rees, “The contemporary refugee crisis: an overview of mental health challenges,” World Psychiatry, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 130–139, 2017.
  • V. Braun and V. Clarke, “Using thematic analysis in psychology Using thematic analysis in psychology,” Qual. Res. Psychol., vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 77–101, 2006.
  • M. Vaismoradi, H. Turunen, and T. Bondas, “Content analysis and thematic analysis: Implications for conducting a qualitative descriptive study,” Nurs. Heal. Sci., vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 398–405, 2013.
  • Y. S. Lincoln and E. G. Guba, Naturalistic inquiry. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, Inc., California, USA, 1985.
  • weather.com, “Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Monthly Weather,” 2020.
There are 29 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Health Policy, Health Care Administration
Journal Section Article
Authors

Sanjida Newaz 0000-0002-2039-1366

Natalie Rıedıger This is me 0000-0002-8736-9446

Publication Date December 25, 2020
Submission Date September 23, 2020
Acceptance Date November 25, 2020
Published in Issue Year 2020

Cite

IEEE S. Newaz and N. Rıedıger, “A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON NEEDS AND BARRIERS TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE SERVICE ACCESS BY REFUGEE WOMEN IN WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA”, IJHSRP, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 276–293, 2020, doi: 10.33457/ijhsrp.798280.

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