Refugee & Newcomer Mental Health Working Group
Refugees and newcomers often face significant mental health challenges due to their experiences before, during, and after migration. These include pre-migration trauma, difficulties associated with migration itself, and post-migration stressors such as cultural adjustment, language barriers, discrimination, and economic hardship — all of which can exacerbate existing mental health issues or contribute to new ones.
Despite the high prevalence of mental health concerns, refugees and newcomers often face barriers in accessing care, such as:
- Language and Cultural Differences: Miscommunication due to language gaps and differing cultural views on mental health.
- Stigma: Mental health stigma within certain communities discourages individuals from seeking help.
- Systemic Issues: Limited culturally sensitive professionals, inadequate services, and financial constraints hinder access.
The Ontario Psychiatric Association (OPA) recognizes the urgent need to improve mental health care for refugees and newcomers. This OPA working group will focus on addressing the unique mental health needs of refugees and newcomers in Ontario. The scope of this OPA working group will be to develop strategies, resources, and recommendations to improve mental health services and outcomes for these populations.
Objectives
- To identify and assess the mental health needs of refugees and newcomers in Ontario.
- To advocate for policies and practices that support the mental health of refugees and newcomers.
- To collaborate with community organizations, other healthcare providers, and policymakers to enhance mental health services.
- To promote awareness and education about the mental health challenges faced by refugees and newcomers.
The working group will include psychiatrists, psychiatry residents, patients, family members, and representatives from community organizations. This diverse team ensures a comprehensive approach to addressing mental health concerns in these communities.
The working group is committed to centring the principles of cultural safety and decolonization in all of its initiatives. Cultural safety involves recognizing and valuing individuals’ unique cultural backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, as well as acknowledging the power dynamics in healthcare settings to foster an environment where patients and families feel respected and heard. Decolonization, in the context of the Canadian healthcare system, requires critically examining and addressing systemic and structural inequities that disproportionately impact First Nations communities. These considerations are particularly significant as the healthcare system adapts to meet the needs of immigrants and refugees, ensuring their access to inclusive and equitable care.
The working group will take a trauma-informed, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive approach to its efforts, actively challenging discriminatory practices and policies. This includes creating a mental health care system that respects and values the diverse experiences and identities of refugees and newcomers while acknowledging and addressing broader systemic inequities.
Contact the OPA at opa@eopa.ca to express interest in joining the working group.
Dr. Yusra Ahmad
Refugee & Newcomer Mental Health Working Group Lead
Ontario Psychiatric Association
