Post-Disaster Mental Distress Relief: Health Promotion and Knowledge Exchange in Partnership with a Refugee Diaspora Community

After the 2004 Asian tsunami, a group of concerned scientists, physicians, and community service providers united to form a Local Distress Relief Network (LDRN) to provide information, referral, and care to affected members of the large Sri Lankan Tamil community in Toronto. The LDRN organized a workshop that brought together community-based organizations and international and local experts in mental health and disaster response to review existing knowledge on disaster response and to share community knowledge and experience. This article summarizes the development of the network, the workshop proceedings and joint recommendations for community based, culturally appropriate mental distress relief.Après le tsunami survenu en Asie en 2004, un groupe concerné de scientifiques, médecins, et fournisseurs de services communautaires se sont unis pour former un réseau local de soulagement de la détresse (Local Distress Relief Network - LDRN) dans le but de fournir des renseignements, de référer, et de prodiguer des soins aux membres affectés de l’importante communauté tamoule sri lankais à Toronto. Le LDRN a organisé un atelier de travail qui a rassemblé des organisations communautaires ainsi que des experts internationaux et locaux dans le domaine de la santé mentale et d’intervention en cas de désastres pour passer en revue les connaissances existantes en matière de réponses aux désastres et partager le savoir et l’expérience de la communauté. Cet article résume le développement du réseau, les délibérations de l’atelier de travail et les recommandations communes pour le soulagement de la détresse mentale adapté à la communauté et culturellement approprié

Predictors of emotional problems and physical aggression among children of Hong Kong Chinese, Mainland Chinese and Filipino immigrants to Canada

Background and study aims: Data from the New Canadian Children and Youth Study (NCCYS), a national study of immigrant children and youth in Canada, are used to examine the mental health salience of putatively universal determinants, as well as of immigration-specific factors. Universal factors (UF) include age, gender, family and neighbourhood characteristics. Migration-specific (MS) factors include ethnic background, acculturative stress, prejudice, and the impact of region of resettlement within Canada. Methods: In a sample of children from Hong Kong, the Philippines and Mainland China, the study examined the determinants of emotional problems (EP), and physical aggression (PA). A two-step regression analysis entered UF on step 1, and MS variables on step 2. Results: Universal factors accounted for 12.1% of EP variance. Addition of MS variables increased explained variance to 15.6%. Significant UF predictors: parental depression, family dysfunction, and parent\u27s education. Significant MS variables: country of origin, region of resettlement, resettlement stress, prejudice, and limited linguistic fluency. UF accounted for 6.3% of variance in PA scores. Adding migration-specific variables increased variance explained to 9.1%. UF: age, gender, parent\u27s depression, family dysfunction. MS: country of origin, region of resettlement, resettlement stress, and parent\u27s perception of prejudice. Conclusions: Net of the effect of factors affecting the mental health of most, if not all children, migration-specific variables contribute to understanding immigrant children\u27s mental health

Perinatal Outcomes of Uninsured Immigrant, Refugee and Migrant Mothers and Newborns Living in Toronto, Canada

Canadian healthcare insurance is not universal for all newcomer populations. New immigrant, refugee claimant, and migrant women face various barriers to healthcare due to the lack of public health insurance coverage. This retrospective study explored the relationships between insurance status and various perinatal outcomes. Researchers examined and compared perinatal outcomes for 453 uninsured and provincially insured women who delivered at two general hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area between 2007 and 2010. Data on key perinatal health indicators were collected via chart review of hospital medical records. Comparisons were made with regional statistics and professional guidelines where available. Four-in-five uninsured pregnant women received less-than-adequate prenatal care. More than half of them received clearly inadequate prenatal care, and 6.5% received no prenatal care at all. Insurance status was also related to the type of health care provider, reason for caesarean section, neonatal resuscitation rates, and maternal length of hospital stay. Uninsured mothers experienced a higher percentage of caesarian sections due to abnormal fetal heart rates and required more neonatal resuscitations. No significant difference was found for low birth weight, preterm birth, NCIU admissions, postpartum hemorrhage, breast feeding, or intrapartum care provided

Perinatal Outcomes of Uninsured Immigrant, Refugee and Migrant Mothers and Newborns Living in Toronto, Canada

Canadian healthcare insurance is not universal for all newcomer populations. New immigrant, refugee claimant, and migrant women face various barriers to healthcare due to the lack of public health insurance coverage. This retrospective study explored the relationships between insurance status and various perinatal outcomes. Researchers examined and compared perinatal outcomes for 453 uninsured and provincially insured women who delivered at two general hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area between 2007 and 2010. Data on key perinatal health indicators were collected via chart review of hospital medical records. Comparisons were made with regional statistics and professional guidelines where available. Four-in-five uninsured pregnant women received less-than-adequate prenatal care. More than half of them received clearly inadequate prenatal care, and 6.5% received no prenatal care at all. Insurance status was also related to the type of health care provider, reason for caesarean section, neonatal resuscitation rates, and maternal length of hospital stay. Uninsured mothers experienced a higher percentage of caesarian sections due to abnormal fetal heart rates and required more neonatal resuscitations. No significant difference was found for low birth weight, preterm birth, NCIU admissions, postpartum hemorrhage, breast feeding, or intrapartum care provided

Gespräche mit chinesischen und tamilischen Müttern zur Homogenisierung, Normalisierung und Objektivierung von Körperbildern

The influence of urbanization, modernization and acculturation processes as causes for the development of body image concerns and eating disorders are documented in the literature. Women exposed to a Western idea of "beauty" as skinny and thin may be more vulnerable to body dissatisfaction. The elements of Western society that contribute to women's body dissatisfaction are captured and described in BORDO's empire of images (2003) and FREDRICKSON and ROBERTS' objectification theories (1997). Both theories rest on the assumptions that women's bodies are seen as passive elements in Western society, and that as a result women often engage in activities that measure, modify, and control their bodies to meet Western standards of beauty and attractiveness. Homogenization, normalization, and objectification have not been studied among immigrant women, nor have similarities and differences been explored across ethno-cultural communities. Participatory methodology informed the data collection process and analysis. A series of three separate parent focus groups were held with each of the Tamil and Mainland Chinese mothers of elementary school children respectively, for a total of six focus groups and 13 participants. Through dialogue, newcomer immigrant mothers were invited to define their cultural idea of beauty and to confront it with the Canadian one. For both Chinese and Tamil mothers, the homogenization, normalization, and objectification of their bodies appeared to occur in similar ways. Immigrant women and their daughters tend to internalize the Western ideals of women's thinness; this makes them self-conscious about their own bodies.URN: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs130126Se ha documentado en la literatura la influencia de los procesos de urbanización, modernización y de aculturación como causas para el desarrollo de preocupaciones de la imagen del cuerpo y los desórdenes de alimentación. Mujeres expuestas a la idea occidental de la "belleza" como delgada y flaca pueden ser más vulnerables a la insatisfacción del cuerpo. Los elementos de la sociedad occidental que contribuyen a la insatisfacción del cuerpo de las mujeres son capturados y descritos en las imágenes de imperio de BORDO (2003) y las teorías de objetivación de FREDRICKSON y ROBERTS (1997). Ambas teorías descansan en las creencias de que los cuerpos de las mujeres son vistos como elementos pasivos en la sociedad occidental, y como un resultado la mujer casi siempre se compromete en actividades que miden, modifican, y controlan sus cuerpos para alcanzar los parámetros occidentales de la belleza y ser atractivas. La homogeneización, normalización, y objetivación no han sido estudiados entre las mujeres inmigrantes, ni tampoco han sido exploradas las similitudes y diferencias a lo largo de las comunidades etno-culturales. Metodología participativa informó el proceso de colección de datos y el análisis. Se tuvo una serie de tres grupos focales separados respectivamente con madres tamil y chinas de escuelas primarias, para un total de seis grupos focales y 13 participantes. A través del diálogo, se invitó a madres inmigrantes recién llegadas para definir su idea cultural de la belleza y confrontarla con la canadiense. Para las madres tamil y chinas, la homogeneización, normalización, y objetivación de sus cuerpos ocurrió en formas similares. Las mujeres inmigrantes y sus hijas tienden a internalizar ideas occidentales de mujeres delgadas, esto las hace más auto-conscientes acerca de sus propios cuerpos.URN: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs130126Urbanisierungs-, Modernisierungs- und Akkulturationsprozesse sind als Ursachen von Körperbild- und Essstörungen hinlänglich bekannt. Frauen, die einem westlichen Schönheitsideal von Schlankheit ausgesetzt sind, sind hiernach eher in Gefahr, mit ihrem Körper unzufrieden zu sein. Was zu dieser Unzufriedenheit beiträgt, kann mit BORDOs Theorie des "Empire of Images (2003) und mit der "Objectification Theory" von FREDRICKSON und ROBERTS (1997) gefasst werden: Beide Theorien gehen davon aus, dass weibliche Körper in westlichen Gesellschaften als passiv erachtet werden, und dass sich Frauen in der Folge bemühen, ihre Körper so zu bemessen, zu ändern und zu kontrollieren, dass er westlichen Standards von Schönheit und Attraktivität genügt.Die Homogenisierung, Normalisierung und Objektivierung von Körper(bilder)n wurde bisher weder für Immigrantinnen noch in Bezug auf Ähnlichkeiten und Unterschiede zwischen verschiedenen ethno-kulturellen Gemeinschaften untersucht. Die hier vorgestellte Studie folgte bei der Datenerhebung und -analyse einem partizipativen Forschungsansatz. Insgesamt wurden sechs Fokusgruppen, jeweils drei mit tamilischen und drei mit chinesischen Müttern von Grundschulkindern und 13 Einzelgespräche durchgeführt. In diesen wurden neu nach Kanada immigrierte Mütter gebeten, kulturelle Vorstellungen von Schönheit zwischen ihrem Herkunftsland und der kanadischen Gesellschaft zu benennen und zu vergleichen. Für die befragten tamilischen und chinesischen Mütter fanden sich hierbei Ähnlichkeiten in Bezug auf Homogenisierungs-, Normalisierungs- und Objektivierungsprozesse ihrer Körper(bilder). Die Frauen und deren Töchter internalisierten westliche Schlankheitsideale und zeigten eine gegenüber ihrem Herkunftsland erhöhte Aufmerksamkeit für den eigenen Körper.URN: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs13012

Dialogue with immigrant mothers from Chinese and Tamil communities to explore homogenization, normalization, and objectification of their body

"Urbanisierungs-, Modernisierungs- und Akkulturationsprozesse sind als Ursachen von Körperbild- und Essstörungen hinlänglich bekannt. Frauen, die einem westlichen Schönheitsideal von Schlankheit ausgesetzt sind, sind hiernach eher in Gefahr, mit ihrem Körper unzufrieden zu sein. Was zu dieser Unzufriedenheit beiträgt, kann mit Bordo's Theorie des 'Empire of Images' (2003) und mit der 'Objectification Theory' von Fredrickson und Roberts (1997) gefasst werden: Beide Theorien gehen davon aus, dass weibliche Körper in westlichen Gesellschaften als passiv erachtet werden, und dass sich Frauen in der Folge bemühen, ihre Körper so zu bemessen, zu ändern und zu kontrollieren, dass er westlichen Standards von Schönheit und Attraktivität genügt. Die Homogenisierung, Normalisierung und Objektivierung von Körper(bilder)n wurde bisher weder für Immigrantinnen noch in Bezug auf Ähnlichkeiten und Unterschiede zwischen verschiedenen ethno-kulturellen Gemeinschaften untersucht. Die hier vorgestellte Studie folgte bei der Datenerhebung und -analyse einem partizipativen Forschungsansatz. Insgesamt wurden sechs Fokusgruppen, jeweils drei mit tamilischen und drei mit chinesischen Müttern von Grundschulkindern und 13 Einzelgespräche durchgeführt. In diesen wurden neu nach Kanada immigrierte Mütter gebeten, kulturelle Vorstellungen von Schönheit zwischen ihrem Herkunftsland und der kanadischen Gesellschaft zu benennen und zu vergleichen. Für die befragten tamilischen und chinesischen Mütter fanden sich hierbei Ähnlichkeiten in Bezug auf Homogenisierungs-, Normalisierungs- und Objektivierungsprozesse ihrer Körper(bilder). Die Frauen und deren Töchter internalisierten westliche Schlankheitsideale und zeigten eine gegenüber ihrem Herkunftsland erhöhte Aufmerksamkeit für den eigenen Körper." (Autorenreferat)"The influence of urbanization, modernization and acculturation processes as causes for the development of body image concerns and eating disorders are documented in the literature. Women exposed to a Western idea of 'beauty' as skinny and thin may be more vulnerable to body dissatisfaction. The elements of Western society that contribute to women's body dissatisfaction are captured and described in Bordo's empire of images (2003) and Fredrickson and Roberts' objectification theories (1997). Both theories rest on the assumptions that women's bodies are seen as passive elements in Western society, and that as a result women often engage in activities that measure, modify, and control their bodies to meet Western standards of beauty and attractiveness. Homogenization, normalization, and objectification have not been studied among immigrant women, nor have similarities and differences been explored across ethno-cultural communities. Participatory methodology informed the data collection process and analysis. A series of three separate parent focus groups were held with each of the Tamil and Mainland Chinese mothers of elementary school children respectively, for a total of six focus groups and 13 participants. Through dialogue, newcomer immigrant mothers were invited to define their cultural idea of beauty and to confront it with the Canadian one. For both Chinese and Tamil mothers, the homogenization, normalization, and objectification of their bodies appeared to occur in similar ways. Immigrant women and their daughters tend to internalize the Western ideals of women's thinness; this makes them self-conscious about their own bodies." (author's abstract

Dialogue with Immigrant Mothers from Chinese and Tamil Communities to Explore Homogenization, Normalization, and Objectification of their Body

The influence of urbanization, modernization and acculturation processes as causes for the development of body image concerns and eating disorders are documented in the literature. Women exposed to a Western idea of "beauty" as skinny and thin may be more vulnerable to body dissatisfaction. The elements of Western society that contribute to women's body dissatisfaction are captured and described in BORDO's empire of images (2003) and FREDRICKSON and ROBERTS' objectification theories (1997). Both theories rest on the assumptions that women's bodies are seen as passive elements in Western society, and that as a result women often engage in activities that measure, modify, and control their bodies to meet Western standards of beauty and attractiveness. Homogenization, normalization, and objectification have not been studied among immigrant women, nor have similarities and differences been explored across ethno-cultural communities. Participatory methodology informed the data collection process and analysis. A series of three separate parent focus groups were held with each of the Tamil and Mainland Chinese mothers of elementary school children respectively, for a total of six focus groups and 13 participants. Through dialogue, newcomer immigrant mothers were invited to define their cultural idea of beauty and to confront it with the Canadian one. For both Chinese and Tamil mothers, the homogenization, normalization, and objectification of their bodies appeared to occur in similar ways. Immigrant women and their daughters tend to internalize the Western ideals of women's thinness; this makes them self-conscious about their own bodies. URN: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs13012

Examining Trends of Cigarette Smoking Amongst Syrian Refugees During Their First Two Years in Canada

This brief report explored trends of cigarette smoking among Syrian newcomers in the first two years of resettlement in Canada. 1794 adult Syrian refugees were surveyed about their physical and mental health, and smoking behaviours. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and logistic regressions. Almost 27% of the sample reported cigarette smoking (50% light smokers and 50% moderate/heavy smokers). Light smokers increased and moderate/heavy smokers decreased in the number of cigarettes smoked from year 1 to year 2. Moderate/heavy smokers were more likely to be male and reported higher post-traumatic stress scores, while light smokers reported higher depression scores. Only 14.3% of smokers recalled receiving advice from health care providers in Canada regarding their smoking habits. Healthcare providers should provide tailored advice to everyone who is an active smoker with a specific emphasis on those who have concurrent health issues