Abstract
BackgroundMigration has been shown to be associated with negative mental health outcomes. Moreover, migrants tend to underutilise mental health services. The current study aimed to assess the association between predictors, divided into three groups (predisposing, enabling and need), and two outcome variables: (1) past professional mental health help-seeking during the stay in the United Kingdom; (2) intentions of mental health help-seeking from a mental health professional within the next three months.MethodsThe study utilised a population-based cross-sectional survey with the final sample of 536 participants. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the association between predictors and the outcomes.ResultsWe found strong evidence that older age, mental health stigma and living circumstances (predisposing factors), as well as knowledge of the National Health Service, social support, and education (enabling factors) were associated with past and future help-seeking for mental health problems. Finally, mental health status was associated with both past help-seeking and intentions.ConclusionDue to large numbers of migrants in the UK it is vital to ensure that these populations receive adequate mental health support. Findings of the present study may inform development of policies and interventions better tailored to specific migrant populations.
Highlights
Migration has been shown to be associated with negative mental health outcomes
On the other hand, having a partner in the United Kingdom (UK) (B = 0.91, 0.14 to 1.95, p = 0.09) and knowledge of National Health Service (NHS) (B = 0.14, − 0.16 to 0.44, p = 0.37) were not associated with intentions of help-seeking in the complete case analysis, whereas this association was shown by the analysis with the imputed sample. In this cross-sectional survey of Polish immigrants living in the UK, we found strong evidence that older age and living circumstances, as well as knowledge of the NHS, social support, mental health stigma and education were associated with aspects of past and future help-seeking for mental health problems
As commonly found in the literature, current mental health status was associated with both past help-seeking and intentions [18]
Summary
Migration has been shown to be associated with negative mental health outcomes. migrants tend to underutilise mental health services. Gondek and Kirkbride BMC Health Services Research (2018) 18:693 health problems, psychotic disorders [11, 12] This risk may extend to European migrant groups [13, 14], including people of Eastern European origin. Smolen conducted a population-based survey – with a sample of 286 Polish-born adults living in the UK for at least 12 months – showing that 36% were under permanent stress [8, 9] While it remains unclear how this figure compares with that in the general population, due to a lack of comparable data, qualitative research has highlighted that migrant groups cite immigration as a stressful life event commonly contributing to a subsequent deterioration of their mental health [10]
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