TY - JOUR PY - 2010// TI - Changes in the Sociocultural Reality of Chinese Immigrants: Challenges and Opportunities in Help-Seeking Behaviour JO - International journal of social psychiatry A1 - Chung, I. SP - 436 EP - 447 VL - 56 IS - 4 N2 - Introduction: This paper uses findings from a larger study to present a nuanced depiction of the interplay of informal and formal help-seeking processes of a sample of Chinese immigrants in their mental healthcare in New York City. Method: Thirty one participants who were receiving mental health treatment were interviewed with regard to their experiences preceding their suicide attempt. Their narratives were coded for thematic analysis. Findings: Acculturation difficulties, inaccessibility to services and stigma associated with mental illness were major obstacles in the participants’ help-seeking process, which was consistent with other studies of immigrants of ethnic minority groups in the USA. In addition, the findings showed how changes in this sample of Chinese immigrants’ socio-cultural reality disrupted familiar help-seeking pathways, and perpetuated and amplified the aforementioned stressors. Issues of human connection, immigrants’ resiliency and missed opportunities were also identified as potential resources to modify cultural stigmas and help-seeking behaviour. Conclusion: There are varied socio-cultural factors that need to be considered in mental health outreach services in immigrant communities.

LA - SN - 0020-7640 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0020764009105647 ID - ref1 ER -