1. Improving Access to Mental Health Services for Racialized Immigrants, Refugees, and Non-Status People Living with HIV/AIDS.
- Author
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Chen, Y. Y. Brandon, Tai-Wai Li, Alan, Po-Lun Fung, Kenneth, and Pui-Hing Wong, Josephine
- Subjects
DISCRIMINATION (Sociology) ,FOCUS groups ,HEALTH services accessibility ,HELP-seeking behavior ,HIV-positive persons ,IMMIGRANTS ,INTERVIEWING ,RESEARCH methodology ,MENTAL health services ,QUESTIONNAIRES ,REFUGEES ,STATISTICAL sampling ,SOCIAL isolation ,SOCIAL stigma ,QUALITATIVE research ,RELOCATION ,JUDGMENT sampling ,QUANTITATIVE research ,CULTURAL competence ,DATA analysis software - Abstract
The demographic characteristics of people living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) in Canada are increasingly diverse. Despite literature suggesting a potentially heightened mental health burden borne by racialized immigrant, refugee, and non-status PHAs (IRN-PHAs), researchers have hitherto paid insufficient attention to whether existing services adequately address this need and how services might be improved. Employing community-based research methodology involving PHAs from five ethnoracial groups in Toronto, Ontario, this study explored IRN-PHAs' mental health service-seeking behaviors, service utilization experiences, and suggestions for service improvements. Results showed that while most IRN-PHAs were proactive in improving their mental health, their attempts to obtain support were commonly undermined by service provider mistreatment, unavailability of appropriate services, and multiple access barriers. A three-pronged approach involving IRN-PHA empowerment, anti-stigma and cultural competence promotion, and greater service integration is proposed for improving IRN-PHAs' mental health service experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
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