Immigration and Psychosis: an Exploratory Study

Luljeta Pallaveshi (), Ahmed Jwely, Priya Subramanian, Mai Odelia Malik, Lueda Alia and Abraham Rudnick
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Luljeta Pallaveshi: Lawson Health Research Institute/LHSC-VH
Ahmed Jwely: Crisis Response Centre (CRC), Psychiatry
Priya Subramanian: Western University
Mai Odelia Malik: Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry Western University
Lueda Alia: Western University
Abraham Rudnick: Northern Ontario School of Medicine and Lakehead University

Journal of International Migration and Integration, 2017, vol. 18, issue 4, No 9, 1149-1166

Abstract: Abstract This qualitative study aimed to explore views (and related experiences) of healthcare providers regarding immigration and its relation to psychosis, such as schizophrenia, particularly to identify support needs and challenges of immigrants with psychosis and related challenges and enablers of their mental health service providers. The objectives of this study were to identify (1) barriers and enablers of mental health and other services for Canadian immigrants with psychosis and (2) barriers and enablers for their mental health service providers. The study used a phenomenological approach to elicit views of 12 mental healthcare providers with experience in providing mental healthcare to immigrants with psychosis. Semi-structured individual interview data obtained were coded and thematically analyzed. Six themes in relation to the experience of service provision to immigrants with psychosis were found: the immigration process, service availability and accessibility, social determinants of health, cultural context, psychosocial stressors, and enablers and facilitators of recovery. The most prominent challenges/barriers were related to cultural context, language, social and health services, and support. Most mental healthcare providers believed that immigration process precipitates the first episode of psychosis in a majority of immigrants and that psychosis was undetected/non-present when in the country of origin. This study demonstrated system challenges and related opportunities for service provision for immigrants with psychosis. We identified important areas for intervention to reduce disparities for immigrants with psychosis in their use of social and health services. Future directions for research in relation to immigration of people with psychosis are discussed.

Keywords: Immigration; Mental health care providers; Psychosis; Social justice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1007/s12134-017-0525-1

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