Title : Barriers to mental health services utilization among sub-saharan african immigrants in the United States: A literature review
Abstract:
Immigrants fall under a unique population as they not only have to adjust to the new country of residence but also have to contend with the stressors unique to migration. African immigrants not only have to contend with the concept of otherness but also the multiple marginal identities that comes with being in a foreign country. This population may experience discrimination on the basis of citizenship status religion, language, cultural, and racial identities. Evidence suggests that these stressors can increase the chances of the African immigrants developing mental illnesses. The Purpose of this literature review was to examine factors that may impede utilization of mental health services utilization and factors associated with mental health help seeking behavior amongst sub-Saharan African immigrants in the USA. A literature review search of published articles in CINAHL, MEDLINE and PsychInfo database from 2014-2022, was conducted. Additional references were obtained from bibliographies of these articles. Data was analyzed and categorized into themes. Barriers to mental health services included; stigma, discrimination, financial barrier and lack of mental literacy. Help seeking factors included; religiosity, proficiency in English, level of education, neighborhood risk, gender and age. This literature review revealed the complex nature of being an African immigrant, with many of the major themes being interrelated thus difficult to explicitly define and independently analyze its effects on immigrant group. Understanding these factors may provide concrete evidence for future research, policy development, and intervention programs that fully support African immigrants.
