Lived experiences of Chinese migrants with mental illness in Australia

Abstract

Literature specifically focused on Chinese migrants' mental health issues is limited even though there is a large number of scholars have discussed the migrants' resettlement experiences in the new countries. In fact, information of socio-cultural impacts on the construction and course of mental distress/illness among Chinese migrants in Australia is unclear, and the Chinese migrants' needs and their barriers to access mainstream mental health services is still fragmented. In response to the recent trend of socio-cultural approach in studying migrants' mental health issues, it is the purpose of this treatise to present a thorough literature review to describe and explore the cultural beliefs and norms of Chinese. The treatise will also illustrate how Chinese traditional culture influences the Chinese migrants' perception of and the course of mental distress/illness while they are interacting with the social environment in Australia. The argument is further supported by providing two case vignettes from a qualitative study: Lived experiences of Chinese migrants with mental illness in Australia. Two Chinese migrant women were interviewed in this study. In the social dimension, family related difficulties: such as unsatisfactory relationship with family members, full family responsibilities and role change in a family, are significant perceived stressors for Chinese migrant women. In Chinese culture, there is no clear distinction between body and mind as in Western countries. The emphasis on a family which shares the fame and ill fame among family members, in addition with the support or advice from the close family members can have impacts on the affected person's help-seeking from health professionals, which in turn, influences the course and outcome of mental distress/illness among Chinese migrants. As community health professionals, it is important not only to avoid the stereotyped thinking about one's culture, but also to maintain 'a total person approach' which involves an individual migrant's environment, including family, friends, community and the cultural setting in which the migrant lives.