The Resettlement Blues: The Role of Social Support in Newcomer Women’s Mental Health

Abstract

About 250,000 newcomers enter Canada each year, with about 10 % of the annual inflow of newcomers comprising refugees, and 20 % of the Canadian population now being first generation immigrants. Immigration and resettlement entail opportunities and challenges for newcomer and, for most, a common challenge is change in availability of social support and social networks, resulting in significant decreases in perceived and experienced social support during the initial years in the host country. Adequate social support is associated with well-being and mental health, whereas lack of social support is considered to be a risk factor for psychological stress and mental illness. Disruptions to social support have been linked to elevated risk of depression, especially in women, a population particularly vulnerable to distress during the process of resettlement. Social support influences mental health, with adequate levels acting as a buffer against mental illness, and lack of social support being considered a risk factor for mental illness. Some evidence suggests that women value social support more than men and are particularly vulnerable when this resource decreases. First, emerging findings regarding social support and women's mental health are reviewed. Second, the study's methods and findings are presented. Finally, barriers to mental health care for newcomers to Canada and implications for clinical practice are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)