Settlement counselling and mental health
At times, addressing clients' mental health needs and concerns requires exploring of other issues that may be affecting their lives, such as the following:
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Practical issues
Employment, access to income support, housing and referrals to health clinics to address physical health problems are key sources of concern for many newcomers and often require follow-up or support.
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Social and cultural issues
Stigma, cultural identity and language barriers often affect the newcomer experience.
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Family issues
Family separation, reunification or relationships with partners or children are common stressors for newcomers.
An appropriate referral to specialized mental health resources is required in the following situations:
- Diagnosis of severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, clinical depression or bipolar disorder.
- Evidence that a client is at a high risk of suicide.
- Evidence that a substance use problem or disorder is affecting a client’s behaviour and habits or poses a threat to the service provider.
A study of Canada’s settlement services revealed a high level and growing need for mental health support for newcomers (IRCC, 2017). The study also showed that service provider organizations are often not equipped to deal with the mental health issues that immigrants and refugees may present with (IRCC, 2017). Besides referrals to mental health resources, organizations providing settlement services can also seek partnerships or collaborations across sectors, allowing clients to access both settlement and mental health services where one is informed by the other. Some organizations offer both services.
Integrated settlement and mental health services allow service providers to more easily coordinate services, while allowing clients to seamlessly access them as needed. In supporting clients' immediate settlement needs, service providers have the potential to build strong client relationships. This can lead to the additional benefit of clients being more open to accessing mental health services when the need arises.
Timely access to effective mental health care and support is important for recent newcomers as social risk factors (or determinants, as discussed in Module 1) shortly after migration, can have a significant effect on mental health. One report for example, found that risk factors such as family separation, a drop in socio-economic status, or an unfriendly reception by the host society can impact immigrants' mental health, especially between three to 18 months after arrival (Social Planning Council of Peel, 2000) .
The following are examples of agencies that provide both settlement and mental health services:
Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture (VAST) provides services such as a trauma counselling, and psychosocial education to help refugees in their settlement process. VAST also provides a psychosocial support group for refugees working through their refugee claims. Through a partnership, it also provides an integrated approach to addressing refugee clients’ mental health and settlement needs during their first few months in Canada.
Learn more about VAST
Madison Community Services offers a range of community-based, holistic services through its Recovery during Immigration and Settlement (RISE) program. The program addresses the mental health and settlement challenges of immigrants and refugees who experience substantial stress during their settlement process. RISE provides one-on-one case management, group orientation sessions and peer support to newcomers in Toronto.
Learn more about RISE