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6th World Congress on
Mental Health, Psychiatry and Wellbeing
March 20-21, 2019 | New York, USA
AQualitative Study on
Treatment Approaches
and Culturally Sensitive
Mental Health Care for
African Immigrants in
the U.S
Ajabeyang Amin
Northwest University’s College
of Social and Behavioral
Sciences, USA
Although the population of
African immigrants in the U.S.
continues to increase (Anderson,
2017), there is limited research on
effective mental health treatment
for this group. The purpose of
this study was to understand
the strategies that African
immigrants utilize when dealing
with emotional and psychological
distress and in maintaining their
overall wellbeing. The study also
sought to obtain information
on important aspects mental
health professionals should
consider in providing culturally
sensitive treatment to African
immigrants. Results from in-depth
interviews with 13 participants
from the states of Washington
and Georgia demonstrated four
factors that are beneficial to
this group include: 1) sense of
community, 2) spirituality, faith,
and religion, 3) meaningful
recreation, and 4) cognitive
strategies. When working
therapeutically, participants
emphasized the importance of
cultural relevance, collaboration,
clarifying expectations, hospitality,
and incorporating their values
and interests. Other essential
factors for mental health
professionals to consider are their
roles within their families in the
U.S. and abroad, and their need
for assistance navigating life in
the U.S. particularly when they
initially arrive. Study findings
also demonstrated that African
immigrants’ perceptions of mental
health and distress are highly
influenced by cultural beliefs from
their native countries. African
immigrants in the current study
had diverse ways of dealing with
mental and emotional distress,
which portrayed high resiliency.
Recommendations are given to
assist mental health professionals
to better serve African immigrant
populations.
Biography
Ajab successfully completed her dissertation
(presented here) in July 2018 and is currently
doing a clinical internship at Frostburg State
University. She will complete her PsyD in
Counseling Psychology in May 2019 from
Northwest University. Ajab has a Master in
Public Health from University of Michigan.
She has worked with various populations in
the U.S. and abroad (Cameroon, Ghana, and
France). She aspires to continue conducting
research on African and African immigrant
populations while providing psychotherapy to
youth and adults in the U.S. and in Cameroon.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EMERGENCYMENTAL HEALTH AND HUMAN RESILIENCE 2019, VOLUME 21
DOI: 10.4172/1522-4821-C2-030
POSTER PRESENTATIONS