Mental Health in migrants: How to support our multicultural community

Written by Andrea Crane, Bilingual Psychologist (English/Spanish)

Australia is a country built by migrants. According to the Australia Bureau of Statistic, by June 2020 there were over 7.6 million migrants living in Australia and 29.8% of Australia’s population were born overseas.

Some of the reasons why people from all over the world decide to move to Australia are:

• Stable economy and political environment

• Inclusive and receptive Multicultural society

• Accessible healthcare system

• Career and job opportunities

• Excellent education system and options to access graduate and postgraduate education while working

For some migrants, Australia is a safe place to establish their life and find stability when their country of origin is at war, struggling with economic or political instability and generalised violence.  Australia receives millions of people who arrive with hope of starting a better life for them and their families. However, one of the challenges of a multicultural society is to understand the particular needs of each individual. And when we talk about multiculturalism we mainly talk about social, economical, communication and health care challenges.  Migrants may come with their own particular history, language, values and beliefs.  Others may learn English as adults, and will struggle to understand the health care system and other services available. Due to language limitations, many may encounter difficulties finding a job, fitting into Australian culture and some could experience racism.

Some migrants might carry their own personal histories of life, trauma, conflict or violence, while experiencing changes in a new environment. The adjustment process to this new reality could cause stress. 

The Australian Psychological Society describes stress as a “feeling overloaded, wound-up, tense and worried, and occurs when we face a situation we feel we can’t cope with”. 

Constant stress, pre-existing health conditions, previous traumatic experiences and difficulties adjusting to a new culture and environment could also have a greater impact on our mental health, causing depression,  anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The challenges for mental and health practitioners is to support clients and patients understanding the underlying issues with language and lack of knowledge for the services and support available in the community. As health practitioners the knowledge regarding services and support available is pivotal to help our migrant community to succeed in their adjustment process. 

Below is a list of some community and government organizations available to support our migrant community, available in the Brisbane and Logan areas:

• Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Centre (QTMHC), provides specialised support in mental health to people with diverse cultural backgrounds and linguistic barriers. 

Website: Multicultural Mental Health Coordinator Program | Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Centre  

Phone: 3317 1234

Address: Woollongabba Community Health Centre

Level 2, 228 Logan Road, Woollongabba

• Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma (QPASTT)  provides support migrants that have experienced trauma and torture, to engage in activities and services focusing on health and wellbeing. 

Website:https://qpastt.org.au/

Phone: 3391 6677

Address: 28 Dibley Street, Wooloongabba

• World Wellness Group, provides different programs to support migrants with diverse cultures and languages. The World Wellness Group also provides a multidisciplinary approach to support migrants with stress, mental health issues and trauma. 

Website: https://worldwellnessgroup.org.au

Phone: 3333 2100

Address: 33 Stoneham St, Stone Corner

• Harmony Place is a multicultural non government organization that supports diverse linguistic communities and migrants supporting their mental health, through activities, group dynamics and other services.

Website: http://harmonyplace.org.au/

Phone: 3412 8282

Address: Carmody Centre, Unit 10/2 Carmody Street Logan Central

• 1300 MH CALL (1300 642255) o Mental health line, which is a Queensland government initiative to provide phone support to adults struggling with mental health issues and stress. This service is confidential and private and is a 24/7 service. 

• To find an interpreter in any language, visit TIS website https://www.tisnational.gov.au/

• To search for Mental Health Practitioners such as psychologists with language diversity, you could search on the APS (Australian Psychological Society) website, which has a professional directory. Their website is: https://psychology.org.au