International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
Volume 15, Issue 4, 2017, Pages 738-752

“Finding a Space for Me Outside the Stereotypes”: Community Engagement in Policy and Research to Foster Canadian Racialised Immigrant Women’s Mental Health and Well-Being (Article)

MacDonnell J.A.* , Dastjerdi M. , Bokore N. , Tharao W. , Khanlou N. , Njoroge W.
  • a School of Nursing, York University, 3rd Floor, HNES Building, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
  • b School of Nursing, York University, 3rd Floor, HNES Building, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
  • c Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
  • d Women’s Health in Women’s Hands Community Health Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • e School of Nursing, York University, 3rd Floor, HNES Building, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
  • f Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada

Abstract

Racialised immigrant women face many challenges with resettlement with potential impacts on their mental health and well-being. Recent community-based research (CBR) and associated knowledge translation/exchange (KTE) activities with racialised immigrant women in Toronto, Canada, suggest that activism can promote their mental health and well-being. In this paper, the researchers describe community engagement processes in the CBR that included a stakeholder Think Tank with communities, researchers and service providers in settlement and mental health sectors to create an action plan based on the research. Using a feminist post-colonial lens to analyse the Think Tank data yielded research, policy and program strategies aligned with principles such as building on individuals’ and communities’ strengths and foregrounding gender and racialisation in strategies that can enhance racialised immigrant women’s capacities to take action and overcome barriers. Research, policy and program implications for comprehensive strategies that support health equity, thereby promoting their mental health and well-being, are considered. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

activism immigrant women Community-based research Mental health promotion Program Gender Racialisation policy

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85020398530&doi=10.1007%2fs11469-017-9776-5&partnerID=40&md5=52b11bd165d4fe998a73ad93904fe3a5
DOI: 10.1007/s11469-017-9776-5
ISSN: 15571874
Original Language: English