Bringing attention to immigrant and refugee mental health
Kelly Anderson, PhD, is bringing attention to an overlooked problem—mental health in immigrant and refugee populations in Ontario.
Anderson looked at the data of 4.5 million first-generation immigrants and refugees, aged 14 to 40, who live in Ontario. The evidence suggests that the rates of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders in these populations are tied to country of origin, and whether the person entered as an immigrant or refugee.
Higher rates of psychotic disorders were found among first-generation immigrants from the Caribbean and Bermuda —60 per cent higher than the general population—with lower rates found in immigrants from northern Europe, southern Europe and East Asia. Refugee status from all areas was a significant predictor of risk, with higher rates found in people from East Africa and South Asia —95 per cent and 51 per cent higher, respectively.
“Our findings have important implications for public health and policy,” said Anderson, assistant professor with the Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Psychiatry. “If we can understand why some groups have a higher risk of psychotic disorder, whereas others are protected, we may be able to develop and target interventions and services to people who are at highest risk.”
