Immigration & Mental Health
Immigration can come with new and unexpected challenges that can take a toll on mental health for generations. In order to lend a helping hand, however, we must first turn towards Scripture, which has a lot a say about newcomers.
Leviticus 19:34 “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”
What are the important Factors that affect Mental Health?
There are multiple ways an individual enters a new country. Each method of entry has different implications for immigrants, therefore affecting their adjustments. Factors such as:
Whether immigration was by choice or forced (refugee and asylum)
Socioeconomic status
Immigrating as an individual or with family
Immigrant’s residence in a “gateway” community (communities that traditionally receive immigrants from similar ethnicity or nationality. For example, Miami is a gateway for many Latinas.)
These factors and more can impact an immigrant’s mental health as they adjust to differences in culture and language – all while trying to access resources such as food, shelter, school, and healthcare! Anxiety, depression, and isolation can sometimes follow as they miss their sense of belonging and come face-to-face with discrimination, racism, and bias.
What can we do?
The first thing we can do is be a friend to these immigrants. Approach with cultural humility and curiosity and be open to learning. Learn about their stories, their customs, celebrations, holidays, and look for opportunities to participate with their communities. Try to anticipate their challenges and offer assistance to help them meet their needs, such as navigating work and school obstacles. When in doubt, know that positive encounters help with the transition, so spreading Christ’s love through kindness goes a long way.
Hebrews 13:2: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”