Simich Laura, Maiter Sarah, Moorlag Elin, Ochocka Joanna
Social Equity and Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2009 Winter;32(3):208-14. doi: 10.2975/32.3.2009.208.214.
Ethnolinguistic communities are underserved by mental health systems in immigrant-receiving, multicultural societies, but their perspectives are seldom elicited in mental health research or reform planning. This article helps fill this gap by presenting community perspectives on concepts of mental health, mental illness and mental health experiences with five ethnocultural communities (Latin American, Mandarin-speaking Chinese, Polish, Punjabi Sikh and Somali) in Ontario, Canada.
Data were collected from 21 focus groups as part of a large-scale, participatory action research project called Taking Culture Seriously in Community Mental Health.
The analysis focuses on how mental health and mental illnesses are described, how mental health care is experienced and what recommendations community members provide to improve the mental health system.
Study findings illustrate the importance of the social context of immigration and settlement in conceptualizing mental health and mental distress. We conclude that systemic changes are needed to formulate collaborative, community-based strategies for mental health promotion and interventions.
在接收移民的多元文化社会中，民族语言社区在心理健康系统中未得到充分服务，但在心理健康研究或改革规划中很少征求他们的意见。本文通过呈现加拿大安大略省五个民族文化社区（拉丁裔、说普通话的华人、波兰人、旁遮普锡克教徒和索马里人）对心理健康、精神疾病和心理健康经历概念的社区观点，有助于填补这一空白。
作为一个名为“在社区心理健康中认真对待文化”的大规模参与式行动研究项目的一部分，从21个焦点小组收集了数据。
分析重点在于心理健康和精神疾病是如何被描述的、心理健康护理的体验如何以及社区成员为改善心理健康系统提供了哪些建议。
研究结果表明了移民和定居的社会背景在概念化心理健康和精神困扰方面的重要性。我们得出结论，需要进行系统性变革，以制定促进心理健康和干预的协作性、基于社区的策略。
