1. Newcomer Youth Mental Health
-a discussion on needs, barriers and
promising practices
Sheeba Narikuzhy, M.A (Psychology)
Oleg Valin, OCT

2. Why focus on newcomer youth mental
health?
 Strengthen & expand our existing models of care
 Early Intervention & Treatment
 Economic cost of mental illness in Canada- $7.3 billions
in 1993 & $57 billion in 2010 (CAMH study 2010)
 Growing newcomer population in Canada
 1996 - Immigrants represent 17% of total population in
Canada (Stats Canada)
 1996 - 42% of all Toronto residents were immigrants

3. Mental Health Problems in
Newcomer Youth
 Increased somatoform disorders in Asian
children ( Jawed et.al, BJP 1991) possibly due to
parental readiness to detect & acknowledge
physical problems
 Increase in depression, self harm/suicide
rates
 Bullying/ Cyber bullying

4. Major Themes identified from
working with Newcomer Families
 Undiagnosed/unidentified mental health
problems
 Stigma
 Lack of knowledge about mental health
problems & available services
 Post traumatic symptoms related to
violence/war & trauma

5. Determinants of mental health for
newcomer youth
 Social, cultural and economic status
 Parental psycho pathology
 Family discord
 Ineffective parenting/harsh disciplines
 Children prematurely assuming adult roles
 Adjusting to Canadian education system
 Stigma related to ESL classes
Shakya et.al., Canada Metropolis.net 2008

6. Determinants of mental health for
newcomer youth, continued….
 Traumatic experiences in their native country
 Experiences during their journey to the new
country
 Settlement related difficulties in the new
country

7. Increased psychological stress for
immigrant youth
 Rapid physical development and deep
emotional changes during adolescence
 Increased vulnerability to stress
 Accentuated stress for immigrant youth

8. Role of Family in Adolescent
Mental Health
 Supportive Family Networks buffer against
effects of stress ( Maynard. J et. al, 2010)
 Social Support, Peer & Community relations
 Quality of Family Interactions
 Socio economic status
 Family structure/traditions/values
 Role Modeling

9. Protective Factors for Newcomer
Youth Mental Health
 Supportive Family Networks buffer against
effects of stress ( Maynard. J et. al, 2010)
 Ethnic Density- People reside in
neighbourhoods of higher own group density
experiences buffering effects from social risk
factors of psychosis (Munshi J. et. Al, BJP 2012 )

10. Protective Factors- contd…
 Social Support, Peer & Community relations
 Quality of Family Interactions & Frequency of
Family Activities
 Socio economic status
 Family structure/traditions/values- extended
family support

11. Stats
 Mental health problems account for half of all
disability among young people between the
age of 10-24
 45% of youth disability is related to
depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia
and substance abuse
Study by WHO - Health.com June 6, 2011

12. Stats continued…
 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by
mental illness
 In Canada 1 in 5 kids have mental health
problems and only 1 out of 5 children who
need mental health services receives them
 Approximately 4,000 youth die prematurely
each year by suicide
Stats Canada

13. Stats contd…
 Low income rate for
newcomer youth is 3
times higher than for
Canadian born youth.
 Unemployment rate
for newcomers is
15.4% compared to
12.5% for Canadian
born youth.
Census Canada (2009)

14. Immigrant kids who arrive late more
likely to drop out of high school
 15% boys & 11% girls who come to Canada
after the age of 9 ultimately dropped out of
high school compared to Canadian average
10.3 & 6.6 % respectively
 21.6% (more than 1 in 5) kids who come to
Canada at age 15 dropped out of school
- Corak’s study (2011) , based on Census Canada 2006

15. High risk for emotional problems
for Immigrant children in Toronto
 Immigrant children (from Hong Kong, China &
Philippines) living in Toronto are at high risk for
emotional problems
 Possible reasons include: Poor home –school
relationships and marginalization
Dr. Beiser et.al, 2010 ( New Canadian Children
and Youth Study)

16. Challenges in Engaging Parents of
Newcomer Youth for Mental Health Services
 Family’s belief system/previous experience
may impede their youth’s treatment and
recovery
 Stigma and lack of awareness/knowledge on
mental health issues/services
 Language barrier & cultural shock
 Challenges in ethnic identity formation

17. Case Example
Client Y, a 15 yr old female
 Family came to Toronto as refugees
 Language barrier & financial problems
 Referral to EMYS from hospital for individual
& family work, had multiple admissions for
psychotic episodes; symptoms stabilized with
medication
 Parents deeply concerned & reaching out for
support

18. Case Example Challenges
 Parents believed someone “casted eye” on Y
 Family took Y to faith healer who suggested a sugar
free diet and special prayers & to stop taking
medication
 Y stopped taking medication & had a relapse
 Treatment outcomes:
 Y was placed at residential program
 Parents agreed with treatment plan after many
sessions of intensive family therapy/ psycho
education sessions
 Y was transitioned to adult mental health system

19. Challenges continued…
 Parents’ mental health issues
 Emotional and social unavailability of parents
 Unidentified mental health issues
 Long waitlist for services
 Limited linguistically appropriate services
 Lack of understanding about, and trust for
available resources

20. Newcomer Youth Program- EMYS
 Acculturation and Mental Health
 “Out of the Box Approach”
 Statistics on our program
 External partnerships
 Concerns and challenges

21. Promising Practices for Newcomer
Family Engagement
 Psycho education
 Cultural competent services
 Provision of linguistically appropriate
services
 Mental Health Awareness through various
media e.g. ethnic newspapers/ radio
stations, Facebook etc.
 Education of Family Physicians

22. Promising Practices – contd…
 Facilitating Leadership involving family &
community members from minority groups
 Collaboration between agencies for cultural
consultation & interpretation
 School based screening/ skills training for
identified youth
 Building social/peer support system for youth

23. Promising Practices- contd….
 Creative/ ‘out of the box’ approach to
engaging women e.g. Women’s sewing or
cooking groups, girls soccer team etc.
 Connecting Families with ethno specific
social/recreational groups
 Involving Family in therapeutic process as
much as possible

24. Promising Practices- contd….
 Information sessions on appropriate
parenting practices at settlement
agencies/other agencies serving newcomers
 Information on available resources e.g. kids
helpline, mobile crisis unit
 Collaboration with religious
leaders/institutions to support and enhance
youth/family engagement

25. Questions or Comments?
Sheeba Narikuzhy
Clinical Supervisor
East Metro Youth Services
E-mail: snarikuzhy@emys.on.ca