Discuss two factors that contribute to the historical reluctance of migrants to seek help.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

First, consistent with their cultural belief systems and practices, members of migrant groups are likely initially to explore traditional healing methods with elders, family members, friends, and religious leaders. Only after failing to locate or receive help from such customary support networks do migrants seek out mainstream mental health professionals. A second reason migrants often avoid using mainstream mental health services is the cultural insensitivity of many mental health professionals, which includes failure to understand cultural differences in the expression of symptomatology. Third, there is the problem of language. Not knowing the language of the host country may be an obstacle to migrants’ interaction with mainstream mental health services, either because translators are not available or because the translators provided are not effective within the mental health domain. A fourth reason for migrants’ low utilization of mainstream mental health services is inaccessibility. Clinics and private offices are frequently located in areas that are difficult for migrants to reach and that they may perceive as culturally removed. Public transportation systems may be complicated and difficult to use, and travel on such systems is time-consuming.