As this study aims to explore the mental health needs of Chinese immigrant, first an overview of mental health of immigrants in the UK is needed. The immigrant population in the UK is constantly changing, partly influenced by global socio-
economic trends and partly by the UK’s own revisions of political policies. In recent
years there has been a surge in the immigrant population of the UK. Statistics show that immigration has increased by 95% from 329,000 in 1991 to 641,000 in 2014 (ONS, 2014). Total net migration in 2014 was estimated to be 2.53 million and there are approximately 5.3 million people with a non-British nationality currently living in the UK (ONS, 2015). Studies have suggested that migration has significant effects on health, as migrants have shown higher rates of physical (Gleize et al., 2000) and mental
illness (Gavin, Kelly, Lane, & O’Callaghan, 2001). Racism, discrimination and social
barriers are among some of the difficulties that immigrants might face, which could be potentially stressful for the individual (Williams, Neighbors, & Jackson, 2003).
The publication “Aliens and Alienists: Ethnic Minorities and Psychiatry” (Littlewood &
Lipsedge, 1982) provided an important pathway for many current studies. This study selected a few migrant groups (such as West Indians, Turkish Cypriots and Hasidic Jews) and studied the psychological consequences related to their migration process.
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The study also investigated the prejudice ethnic minorities faced during the migration process and the diversity within each group. In the publication, Littlewoods and Lipsedge (1982) examined the epidemiology of mental health illnesses among ethnic minorities, the immigrant population and black British people. They concluded that mental illness amongst these groups could be an understandable response to societal disadvantage and prejudice. This study was conducted over 20 years ago and so the data and conclusions are obviously outdated. However, this study generated much debate within the field of cultural psychology and has no doubt stimulated further research and clinical practice in cross-cultural studies within psychology and psychiatry.
In recent years the textbook “Clinical Topics in Cultural Psychiatry”, published in 2011
(Bhattacharya, Cross, & Bhugra, 2011), provided a more comprehensive and modern overview of the impact of migration on mental health related symptoms. The textbook (Bhattacharya et al., 2011) summarised some of the mental health disorders experienced by immigrant populations and ethnic minorities from previous studies. The rates of deliberate self-harm and suicidal thoughts amongst Caribbean and Pakistani immigrants are significantly higher in the UK (Nazroo, 1997). Schizophrenia is also six times more common for African-Caribbean immigrants when compared to the native population (Harrison, 1990).
A study conducted by Bhugra and Jones (2011) found Egyptian and Asian immigrants have increased rates of bulimia and anorexia nervosa. Studies on asylum seekers have also pointed out that the wide variety of cultural backgrounds often present particular challenges to the mental health services (Ryan, Huebner, Diaz, & Sanchez, 2009; Silove, Steel, & Watters, 2000). A recent meta-analysis (Swinnen & Selten, 2007) found an increase in mood disorders linked to migration, although the mean relative risk was relatively low.
Various hypotheses have been proposed to understand the potential contributors to psychological distress among immigrant populations. A lack of language skills and social support networks are among some of the possible factors (Furnham & Bochner, 1986). There are often conflicts in belief and value systems when immigrants try settling in the UK, which could also cause emotional and mental stress. Views on mental health care often differ among immigration populations, which could potentially result in mismatches between the user and the mental health service. A study conducted by Davies and his colleagues (1996) discovered the pathway to mental health services
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among immigrants in London has a high rate of involuntary admission and police involvement instead of through the consultation of GPs (Davies, Thornicroft, Leese, Higgingbotham, & Phelan, 1996). However, as this study was conducted almost 20 years ago and was limited to only two areas in south London, further studies with an expanded geographical area are needed before drawing specific conclusions. For example, Jacob and colleagues (Jacob, Bhugra, Lloyd, & Mann, 1998) commented that the percentage of Asian women reported to have a common mental disorder was similar to the number of White British women in a GP surgery survey. Bhattacharya et al.
(2011) appeared to agree with Jacob’s (1998) study and commented that there is no
significant difference in the prevalence of common mental disorders between immigrants and the White population, including both genders and across ethic groups (Bhattacharya et al., 2011).
Previous studies have suggested that the migration process is viewed as a stressful event and could negatively impact psychological health in general (Furnham & Bochner, 1986). Nevertheless, due to the complexity in the studied population and contributing factors, further studies are needed to establish a more concrete link between migration and mental health disorders (Bhugra, 2003, 2004; Littlewood & Lipsedge, 1997). The precise picture of the mental health of immigrants still remains one of the most complex conundrums. The ways in which immigrants approach and prepare for migration differ; their experiences are also varied when it comes to their migration and settling processes. Finally, subsequent cultural and social adjustment for immigrants needs to be considered as part of their mental health framework. This is a wide scope of factor analysis which encompasses individual and social contexts and is needed when assessing and planning intervention strategies for immigrant communities at large. As the landscape of immigrant in the UK is rapidly changing, further studies regarding the mental health needs of immigrants are urgently needed.