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Migration, Cultural Diversity and Mental Health
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Migration, Cultural Diversity and Mental Health

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2022) | Viewed by 9247

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anu Emilia Castaneda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
Interests: migration; cultural diversity; mental health; health care; health inequality; psychology; social psychology; non-discrimination
Dr. Kirsi Peltonen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Center for Child Psychiatry, Lemminkäisenkatu, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
Interests: child development; psychological assessment; mental health; clinical assessment; psychoeducation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are honored and delighted to organize a Special Issue on the important topic of the intersection of mental health and cultural diversity in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Persisting inequalities in mental health and barriers to accessing mental health care as well as difficulties in mental health services have been widely recognized as major problems among many foreign-origin populations and ethnic minorities. This topic deserves more investigation to accelerate improvement of the current situation.

This Special Issue is open to any aspects of mental health and psychological well-being among migrants, ethnic minorities, refugees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, indigenous populations, so-called second-generation migrants, undocumented migrants, and foreign-origin populations, both adults and children. Mental health aspects include, but are not limited to, reducing mental health inequalities and disparities, developing mental health services and mental health care solutions, improving access to and solving barriers to accessing mental health care, using psychoeducation, supporting mental health, assessing traumatization and treating traumas, developing psychotherapy and other treatments, preventing mental health problems, identifying factors associated with psychological well-being and psychological ill-health, improving the cultural competence of mental health workers, and investigating psychological assessments. We welcome both quantitative and qualitative empirical original studies and comprehensive review articles. The listed keywords below suggest a few of the many possible topics covered by submitted manuscripts. 

Dr. Anu Emilia Castaneda
Dr. Kirsi Peltonen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • migration
  • cultural diversity
  • refugee
  • asylum seeker
  • ethnic minority
  • mental health
  • psychological well-being
  • traumatization
  • cultural psychiatry
  • cross-cultural psychology

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 595 KiB  
Article
Effectiveness of Promotive and Preventive Psychosocial Interventions on Improving the Mental Health of Finnish-Born and Immigrant Adolescents
by Kirsi Peltonen, Sanni Aalto, Mervi Vänskä, Riina Lepistö, Raija-Leena Punamäki, Emma Soye, Charles Watters, Lutine de Wal Pastoor, Ilse Derluyn and Reeta Kankaanpää
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3686; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063686 - 20 Mar 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2840
Abstract
Background: Schools are considered natural environments in which to enhance students’ social–emotional skills and mental health in general, but they can be especially important for students with refugee and immigrant backgrounds. The current study tested the effectiveness of two school-based interventions in enhancing [...] Read more.
Background: Schools are considered natural environments in which to enhance students’ social–emotional skills and mental health in general, but they can be especially important for students with refugee and immigrant backgrounds. The current study tested the effectiveness of two school-based interventions in enhancing the mental health and wellbeing of adolescents of native, refugee, and immigrant backgrounds. It further analyzed the role of age, gender, daily stressors, and discrimination in affecting the interventions’ effectiveness. Methods: A three-arm cluster RCT with parallel assignment was applied among the 16 schools. Schools were randomized to three conditions of two active interventions and a waiting-list control condition. Students (n = 1974) filled in an online questionnaire at baseline before the interventions, after the interventions, and at follow-up an average of 9 months after the interventions. The effectiveness criteria were internalizing and externalizing problems, resilience, and prosocial behavior. Results: Interventions were generally not effective in decreasing mental health problems and increasing psychosocial resources. The expected positive intervention effects were dependent on students’ age and gender and exposure to socioeconomic daily stressors. Conclusion: Interventions enhancing teacher awareness and peer relationships at school should be carefully tailored according to the strengths and vulnerabilities of participating students, especially their daily stress exposure, but also age and gender. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration, Cultural Diversity and Mental Health)
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12 pages, 340 KiB  
Article
Mental Health and Traumatization of Newly Arrived Asylum Seeker Adults in Finland: A Population-Based Study
by Ferdinand Garoff, Natalia Skogberg, Antti Klemettilä, Eero Lilja, Awa Ahmed Haji Omar, Olli Snellman and Anu E. Castaneda
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(13), 7160; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18137160 - 4 Jul 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2904
Abstract
Asylum seekers frequently experience potentially traumatic events (PTEs), but the type and frequency vary depending on the country of origin. The cumulative effect of multiple PTEs and other stressors expose asylum seekers to a significant risk of mental ill health. The aim of [...] Read more.
Asylum seekers frequently experience potentially traumatic events (PTEs), but the type and frequency vary depending on the country of origin. The cumulative effect of multiple PTEs and other stressors expose asylum seekers to a significant risk of mental ill health. The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of PTEs, depression and anxiety symptoms, risk for psychological trauma, psychotropic medication use and previous mental health diagnoses among adult asylum seekers in the Asylum Seekers Health and Wellbeing (TERTTU) Survey (n = 784 respondents, participation rate 78.6%). A substantial majority (88.7%, 95% CI 86.9–90.3) of asylum seekers reported one or more PTEs before arriving to Finland. PTEs during the asylum-seeking journey were reported at 12.0% (95% CI 10.7–13.4), however, when examined by region of origin, the proportion was 34.5% (95% CI 29.5–39.8) for asylum seekers from Africa (excluding North Africa). Significant symptoms of depression were reported by 41.7% (95% CI 39.6–43.9) of asylum seekers and symptoms of anxiety by 34.2% (95% CI 32.1–36.2). Half of the asylum seekers were assessed as having at least a medium-risk for psychological trauma. Prevalence rates were higher among females and asylum seekers from Africa. This study highlights the importance of using screening tools to identify asylum seekers with severe mental health problems that may need referral to further assessment and treatment. Asylum seekers from Africa (excluding North Africa) should be given additional attention in initial health screenings and examinations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration, Cultural Diversity and Mental Health)

Review

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14 pages, 345 KiB  
Review
Ambivalence towards the Protection of Refugee Children: A Developmental Relational Approach
by Jeanette A. Lawrence, Agnes E. Dodds, Ida Kaplan and Maria M. Tucci
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1602; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031602 - 30 Jan 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2597
Abstract
In this paper we analyze the contemporary ambivalence to child migration identified by Jacqueline Bhabha and propose a developmental relational approach that repositions child refugees as active participants and rights-bearers in society. Ambivalence involves tensions between protection of refugee children and protection of [...] Read more.
In this paper we analyze the contemporary ambivalence to child migration identified by Jacqueline Bhabha and propose a developmental relational approach that repositions child refugees as active participants and rights-bearers in society. Ambivalence involves tensions between protection of refugee children and protection of national borders, public services and entrenched images. Unresolved ambivalence supports failures to honor the rights of refugee children according to international law and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. There is failure to protect and include them in national public services and in international coordination of public health and wellbeing. We identify misrepresentations of childhood and refugeeness that lie behind ambivalence and the equitable organization and delivery of public services for health and wellbeing. With illustrative studies, we propose a developmental relational framework for understanding refugee children’s contributions in the sociocultural environment. Contrary to the image of passive victims, refugee children interact with other people and institutions in the co-construction of situated encounters. A developmental relational understanding of children’s ‘co-actions’ in the social environment provides a foundation for addressing misrepresentations of childhood and refugeeness that deny refugee children protection and inclusion as rights-bearers. We point to directions in research and practice to recognize their rights to thrive and contribute to society. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration, Cultural Diversity and Mental Health)
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