Mental health is an integral part of our overall wellbeing. It affects virtually every aspect of our lives - from our emotional state to daily activities and socialising with others. Different factors affect our mental health: individual biological characteristics, positive and negative lived experiences, relationships with family and social circles.
People from multicultural backgrounds face unique challenges that increase their risk of developing mental illnesses. Traumatic experiences, displacement, and social integration difficulties deteriorate a person's psychological wellbeing. And more than that, very often, people from diverse communities are unable to access timely psychological help.
In this article, we'll discuss:
- What is mental health?
- What factors increase the risks of mental illness in multicultural communities?
- What are the barriers to seeking and accessing mental health support?
- How can mental health services better reach multicultural communities?
Before we start, it's important to clarify the two terms, which are sometimes confused or wrongly used interchangeably: mental health and mental illness.
Mental health vs mental illness. Definition.
The term mental health refers to our overall psychological wellbeing: our emotions, thoughts and feelings, outlook, problem solving and socialising.
"Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. Mental health is fundamental to our collective and individual ability as humans to think, emote, interact with each other, earn a living and enjoy life." - WHO
Mental illness refers to various mental health disorders and conditions. These have specific symptoms and negatively affect a person's wellbeing, thinking and behaviour. The conditions include depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, addictive behaviours, and schizophrenia.
