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Migrants and Service Providers’ Perspectives of Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services in South Australia: A Case of African Migrants with a Refugee Background in South Australia

Author

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  • Nelsensius Klau Fauk

    (College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
    Institute of Resource Governance and Social Change, Jl. R. W. Monginsidi II, No. 2, Kupang 85221, Indonesia)

  • Anna Ziersch

    (College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia)

  • Hailay Gesesew

    (College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia)

  • Paul Ward

    (College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia)

  • Erin Green

    (College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia)

  • Enaam Oudih

    (Relationships Australia, Adelaide, SA 5007, Australia)

  • Roheena Tahir

    (College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia)

  • Lillian Mwanri

    (College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia)

Abstract

International mobility has increased steadily in recent times, bringing along a myriad of health, social and health system challenges to migrants themselves and the host nations. Mental health issues have been identified as a significant problem among migrants, with poor accessibility and underutilisation of the available mental health services (MHSs) repeatedly reported, including in Australia. Using a qualitative inquiry and one-on-one in-depth interviews, this study explored perspectives of African migrants and service providers on barriers to accessing MHSs among African migrants in South Australia. The data collection took place during the COVID-19 pandemic with lockdown and other measures to combat the pandemic restricting face to face meetings with potential participants. Online platforms including Zoom and/or WhatsApp video calls were used to interview 20 African migrants and 10 service providers. Participants were recruited from community groups and/or associations, and organisations providing services for migrants and/or refugees in South Australia using the snowball sampling technique. Thematic framework analysis was used to guide the data analysis. Key themes centred on personal factors (health literacy including knowledge and the understanding of the health system, and poor financial condition), structural factors related to difficulties in navigating the complexity of the health system and a lack of culturally aware service provision, sociocultural and religious factors, mental health stigma and discrimination. The findings provide an insight into the experiences of African migrants of service provision to them and offer suggestions on how to improve these migrants’ mental health outcomes in Australia. Overcoming barriers to accessing mental health services would need a wide range of strategies including education on mental health, recognising variations in cultures for effective service provision, and addressing mental health stigma and discrimination which strongly deter service access by these migrants. These strategies will facilitate help-seeking behaviours as well as effective provision of culturally safe MHSs and improvement in access to MHSs among African migrants.

Suggested Citation

  • Nelsensius Klau Fauk & Anna Ziersch & Hailay Gesesew & Paul Ward & Erin Green & Enaam Oudih & Roheena Tahir & Lillian Mwanri, 2021. "Migrants and Service Providers’ Perspectives of Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services in South Australia: A Case of African Migrants with a Refugee Background in South Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-21, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:17:p:8906-:d:620713
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Satinsky, Emily & Fuhr, Daniela C. & Woodward, Aniek & Sondorp, Egbert & Roberts, Bayard, 2019. "Mental health care utilisation and access among refugees and asylum seekers in Europe: A systematic review," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(9), pages 851-863.
    2. Yulisha Byrow & Rosanna Pajak & Tadgh McMahon & Amitabh Rajouria & Angela Nickerson, 2019. "Barriers to Mental Health Help-Seeking Amongst Refugee Men," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-15, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Amanda Daluwatta & Kathryn Fletcher & Chris Ludlow & Ariane Virgona & Greg Murray, 2023. "A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Facilitators to Accessing and Utilising Mental Health Services amongst Sri Lankan Australians," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Lillian Mwanri & Nelsensius Klau Fauk & Anna Ziersch & Hailay Abrha Gesesew & Gregorius Abanit Asa & Paul Russell Ward, 2022. "Post-Migration Stressors and Mental Health for African Migrants in South Australia: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-15, June.
    3. Angelina Bolyta Inthavong & Davoud Pourmarzi, 2024. "Characteristics of Sexual Health Programs for Migrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(8), pages 1-14, July.
    4. Qingjun Zhao & Meijing Song & Hanrui Wang, 2022. "Voting with Your Feet: The Impact of Urban Public Health Service Accessibility on the Permanent Migration Intentions of Rural Migrants in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-20, November.
    5. Klimentina Krstanoska-Blazeska & Andre Renzaho & Ilse Blignault & Bingqin Li & Nicola Reavley & Shameran Slewa-Younan, 2023. "A Qualitative Exploration of Sources of Help for Mental Illness in Arabic-, Mandarin-, and Swahili-Speaking Communities in Sydney, Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-16, May.
    6. Nelsensius Klau Fauk & Hailay Abrha Gesesew & Alfonsa Liquory Seran & Christopher Raymond & Roheena Tahir & Paul Russell Ward, 2022. "Barriers to Accessing HIV Care Services in Host Low and Middle Income Countries: Views and Experiences of Indonesian Male Ex-Migrant Workers Living with HIV," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, November.

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