Towards culturally inclusive mental health: learning from focus groups with those with refugee and asylum seeker status in Plymouth
International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care
ISSN: 1747-9894
Article publication date: 2 October 2018
Issue publication date: 5 November 2018
Abstract
Purpose
Pre- and post-immigration trauma and stress make refugees a particularly vulnerable group in terms of mental health and well-being. The purpose of this paper is to describe a listening project undertaken in Plymouth, UK, which sought the views of 17 service users (n=12) and staff (n=5) from four local support organisations, for people with refugee and asylum seeker status and those with diverse cultural backgrounds. Aims of the project were to expand Western-centric understandings regarding beneficial support and the promotion of good mental health and well-being in this population.
Design/methodology/approach
Responses were subjected to thematic analysis, co-conducted with a service user. Participants were asked about their personal understandings of mental health and well-being and what supports or hinders well-being.
Findings
The findings enabled the development of a model incorporating 10 threads which support and 9 holes that can hinder well-being.
Research limitations/implications
The relatively small numbers of participants compared with the numbers of asylum seekers and refugees in Plymouth may not be fully representative of the general population in Plymouth and the UK.
Originality/value
Despite increasing cultural diversity within the UK population, available mental health services exist mainly as developed from a Western psychological model of mental distress and treatment. This research provides services with a more informed understanding of mental health for asylum seekers and refugees. As such it is of value towards future service design in Plymouth and the UK. Findings also contributed to a successful funding bid to set up a peer-led support project in the city.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
In no particular order, the authors would like to acknowledge the following organisations for their time and support in allowing for the completion of this research: The Asylum Seeker and Refugee Mental Health Team within Livewell Southwest; Plymouth University; Students and Refugees Together: START; Red Cross Plymouth and Plymouth and Devon Racial Equality Council. The authors would also like to thank Avril Bellinger from START/Plymouth University for her kind support and suggestions. Most of all we would like to thank those that gave their time to participate in this research and for their courage in sharing their views. The authors also owe a special thanks to a service user who chose to remain anonymous, but who gave her time to help with the analysis and production of this research.
Citation
Fish, M. and Fakoussa, O. (2018), "Towards culturally inclusive mental health: learning from focus groups with those with refugee and asylum seeker status in Plymouth", International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, Vol. 14 No. 4, pp. 361-376. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-12-2017-0050
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited