Neuropsychiatrie de l'Enfance et de l'Adolescence
Volume 66, Issue 2, 2018, Pages 81-89

Cultural beliefs about mental health: Points of view of migrant francophone parents from Sub-Saharan Africa [Les croyances culturelles sur la santé mentale : points de vue de parents francophones migrants de l'Afrique subsaharienne] (Article)

Langevin R.* , Lavoie É. , Laurent A.
  • a Faculté Saint-Jean, université de l'Alberta, 310, Pavillon Lacerte, 8406, rue Marie-Anne-Gaboury (91St.), Edmonton, Alberta T6C 4G9, Canada
  • b Faculté Saint-Jean, université de l'Alberta, 310, Pavillon Lacerte, 8406, rue Marie-Anne-Gaboury (91St.), Edmonton, Alberta T6C 4G9, Canada
  • c Faculté d’éducation, université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this descriptive qualitative study was to arrive at a better understanding of the points of view and cultural beliefs of migrant parents from Sub-Saharan Africa on the subject of mental health. A second aim was to provide a variety of recommendations based on the results obtained to help school system staff working with such parents and their children thought to be living with a mental health disorder (MHD). Method: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 8 parents. Results and conclusion: The results suggest that the beliefs held by the majority of the parents on the subjects of mental health, MHDs and the accompanying taboos are similar to Occidental parents’ beliefs, but that their points of view differ regarding the treatment of MHDs. Also, according to 7 of the 8 parents interviewed, certain MHDs are caused by supernatural phenomena. Lastly, some avenues for future research are proposed. © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS

Author Keywords

Cultural beliefs about mental health Supernatural phenomena Sub-Saharan African migrant Mental health disorders

Index Keywords

descriptive research controlled study semi structured interview Africa south of the Sahara cultural factor parental attitude qualitative research Article taboo mental disease mental health human migrant
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85038823044&doi=10.1016%2fj.neurenf.2017.12.001&partnerID=40&md5=8a43ef783552bf8ee2deb1edc3f5bc15
DOI: 10.1016/j.neurenf.2017.12.001
ISSN: 02229617
Original Language: English; French