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Immigrants and Refugees

Immigrants constitute approximately 17 percent of the Canadian population. Canada accepts approximately 225,000 new immigrants a year, and of these 20,000 are refugees. Almost half of Canada’s immigrant population lives in Ontario, making up over a quarter of its population. Statistics Canada projects that by 2017, 20 percent of the nation’s population will be visible minorities, up from 17 percent in 2001.¹

Immigrants have a lower rate of mental disorders than the native-born Canadian population, with the exception of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among those immigrants and refugees who experienced torture, war, and persecution in their home countries, the incidence of PTSD is high.

Stresses associated with immigration and resettlement may also put immigrants and refugees at increased risk for developing mental health problems. Some of the stresses involved in resettlement may include an inability to speak one of the official languages, prejudice and discrimination from the host society, low socio-economic status, separation from one’s family, and isolation from one’s cultural background.

Although mental illnesses have similar symptoms across cultures, their manifestations and how people describe and interpret symptoms vary with ethnicity and culture. For instance, some ethno-cultural groups are more likely to present emotional problems as physical problems. Similarly, stigma within a culture varies according to the cultural and sociological backgrounds of the community. There is evidence that ethnic minorities experience mental illness stigma more harshly than majority groups.² Due to family-shared shame, and different cultural perceptions of mental illness and its causes, many members of minority groups delay treatment. According to a national mental health survey, immigrants were less likely to use a health service for mental health reasons.

Sources

Statistics Canada (2001), 2001 Census of Canada, www.statcan.ca.
Health Canada (2001), Metropolis Project: Canadian Research on Immigration and Health, dsp-psd.communication.gc.ca (PDF).