Migrants and Service Providers’ Perspectives of Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services in South Australia: A Case of African Migrants with a Refugee Background in South Australia

Nelsensius Klau Fauk, Anna Ziersch, Hailay Gesesew, Paul Ward, Erin Green, Enaam Oudih, Roheena Tahir and Lillian Mwanri
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Nelsensius Klau Fauk: College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
Anna Ziersch: College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
Hailay Gesesew: College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
Paul Ward: College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
Erin Green: College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
Enaam Oudih: Relationships Australia, Adelaide, SA 5007, Australia
Roheena Tahir: College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
Lillian Mwanri: College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-21

Abstract: International mobility has increased steadily in recent times, bringing along a myriad of health, social and health system challenges to migrants themselves and the host nations. Mental health issues have been identified as a significant problem among migrants, with poor accessibility and underutilisation of the available mental health services (MHSs) repeatedly reported, including in Australia. Using a qualitative inquiry and one-on-one in-depth interviews, this study explored perspectives of African migrants and service providers on barriers to accessing MHSs among African migrants in South Australia. The data collection took place during the COVID-19 pandemic with lockdown and other measures to combat the pandemic restricting face to face meetings with potential participants. Online platforms including Zoom and/or WhatsApp video calls were used to interview 20 African migrants and 10 service providers. Participants were recruited from community groups and/or associations, and organisations providing services for migrants and/or refugees in South Australia using the snowball sampling technique. Thematic framework analysis was used to guide the data analysis. Key themes centred on personal factors (health literacy including knowledge and the understanding of the health system, and poor financial condition), structural factors related to difficulties in navigating the complexity of the health system and a lack of culturally aware service provision, sociocultural and religious factors, mental health stigma and discrimination. The findings provide an insight into the experiences of African migrants of service provision to them and offer suggestions on how to improve these migrants’ mental health outcomes in Australia. Overcoming barriers to accessing mental health services would need a wide range of strategies including education on mental health, recognising variations in cultures for effective service provision, and addressing mental health stigma and discrimination which strongly deter service access by these migrants. These strategies will facilitate help-seeking behaviours as well as effective provision of culturally safe MHSs and improvement in access to MHSs among African migrants.

Keywords: mental healthcare services; mental health problems; barriers; African migrants; Australia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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