Identidades em crise: imigrantes, emoções e saúde mental em Portugal
TL;DR: The authors discute criticamente o caracter da experiencia migratoria enquanto factor de risco e patologia psiquica, discute a leitura patologizante da experience of emigration, funda as suas conclusoes sobre o modelo de "seleccao negativa", isto e: seriam os sujeitos fracos, pouco integrados na sociedade de origem, com escassas ligacoes afectivas e estrutura familiar insta
Abstract: Este artigo, baseado em 4 anos de pesquisa de terreno num servico de saude mental especifico para imigrantes em Portugal, discute criticamente o caracter da experiencia migratoria enquanto factor de risco e patologia psiquica. As condicoes particularmente duras da migracao contemporânea sao consideradas como propicias a um aumento exponencial de psicopatologias. A ideia de que a emigracao esteja indissoluvelmente ligada a formas especificas de sofrimento psicologico acabou para promover uma progressiva medicalizacao da experiencia migratoria. Esta leitura patologizante da experiencia migratoria funda as suas conclusoes sobre o modelo de "seleccao negativa", isto e: seriam os sujeitos fracos, pouco integrados na sociedade de origem, com escassas ligacoes afectivas e estrutura familiar instavel a optar pela emigracao, levando a que os seus disturbios latentes se manifestassem particularmente no pais de acolhimento. A representacao da vulnerabilidade psicologica como caracteristica intrinseca dos migrantes nao toma todavia em conta a relacao mais ampla entre sofrimento individual e experiencia de exclusao, marginalizacao social, discriminacao e precariedade das condicoes habitacionais e laborais, entre outros factores. O estereotipo do imigrante como pessoa fragil do ponto de vista mental, com um elevado risco de desenvolvimento de patologias psiquiatricas, permite transformar os problemas sociais, economicos e politicos de grupos desfavorecidos em elementos potencialmente patologicos que podem ser controlados e monitorizados farmacologicamente.
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TL;DR: Woundscapes as mentioned in this paper is an exhibition collaboratively produced by 11 anthropologists and artists from different countries, whose work focuses on the reproduction of particular gazes, stereotypes and individual memories that are all connected to respective diasporic dynamics.
Abstract: ‘Woundscapes’ is an exhibition collaboratively produced by 11 anthropologists and artists from different countries, whose work focuses on the reproduction of particular gazes, stereotypes and individual memories that are all connected to respective diasporic dynamics. The works presented at the exhibition attempted to map different forms of dealing with, understanding and expressing ‘suffering’. The works examined individual and collective trajectories of ‘suffering’ and related ‘cure’ strategies in the healthcare market of Greater Lisbon, and different forms and tactics of legitimisation, resistance or reconceptualisation of social positions. The aim of this article is to 1) present the conceptual design of the research underpinning the exhibition; 2) explore the curatorial process of attempting to elude the very distance between object and representation, between ‘inside’ and ‘outside’, and, thus, to elude the ever-encompassing metaphor of the north–south divide, to give visitors the opportunity...
23 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed psychosocial factors associated with well-being and psychological adjustment on a sample of 108 adolescents (55 males and 53 females), children of immigrants from Huelva (Spain) and Algarve (Portugal), aged between 10 and 17 years.
Abstract: The terms on which the integration of new generations of immigrants into Portuguese and Spanish societies happens will have a decisive influence in the future of both countries. Therefore, promoting their health, well-being, and psychosocial adaptation is a matter of strategic interest. This paper analyses psychosocial factors associated with well-being and psychological adjustment on a sample of 108 adolescents (55 males and 53 females), children of immigrants from Huelva (Spain) and Algarve (Portugal), aged between 10 and 17 years. Adolescents were assessed for demographic characteristics and perceived well-being. We used the "KIDSCREEN-5", a self-report questionnaire that yields detailed profile information for children aged 8 to 18 years for the following ten dimensions: Physical well-being, Psychological well-being, Moods and emotions, Self-perception, Autonomy, Parental relationships and home life, Financial resources, Social support and peers, School environment, and Social acceptance (Bullying). Overall, significant differences were found between the Spanish and Portuguese samples on physical well-being, psychological well-being, mood, financial resources and social acceptance (bullying). Boys perceived themselves as having a better physical well-being than girls. Mothers' educational level was associated with psychological well-being and mood. Also, results suggested that residence location and other socio-demographical variables were not associated with the adolescents' well-being and psychological adjustment.
15 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a discurso sobre imigracao and vinculado a formas especificas de sofrimento psiquico, correse o risco de medicalizacao da experiencia migratoria and controle farmacologico de problemas que podem ser sociais, politicos ou economicos.
Abstract: Questoes sobre atendimento a saude sao, atualmente, a porta de entrada dos direitos humanos e dos dispositivos de reconhecimento dos migrantes e refugiados. Entretanto, dependendo de como se entende a assistencia a esse grupo pode ser gerado um "desreconhecimento" do sujeito. Impasses surgem ao se naturalizar a experiencia migratoria como fator de risco que leva a patologia psiquica. Quando o discurso sobre imigracao e vinculado a formas especificas de sofrimento psiquico, corre-se o risco de medicalizacao da experiencia migratoria e controle farmacologico de problemas que podem ser sociais, politicos ou economicos. Um desafio e a formacao de trabalhadores no atendimento a saude fisica e mental dos migrantes para dar suporte ao encontro: e necessario compreender a representacao da saude e da doenca no contexto de origem e as especificidades atuais de vida dessas pessoas sem estereotipar a condicao de migrante ou refugiado nem silenciar a singularidade do sujeito.
12 citations
24 Aug 2018
TL;DR: In this paper, the notion of trauma, which entails a kind of suffering that takes place in a past time, is mobilized by the mental health service but not by the subjects assisted by them, that mobilize present and future temporalities when requesting this kind of aid, demonstrating how these approaches and interventions are reformulated or not when facing these distinct temporalities of suffering.
Abstract: This paper presents ethnographic reflections from my fieldwork in a mental health assistance program for refugees in the city of Sao Paulo, and in other contexts I point to how the notion of trauma, which entails a kind of suffering that takes place in a past time, is mobilized by the mental health service, but not by the subjects assisted by them, that mobilize present and future temporalities when requesting this kind of aid, demonstrating how these approaches and interventions are reformulated or not when facing these distinct temporalities of suffering
10 citations
17 Dec 2018
TL;DR: In this paper, an integrative literature review was conducted (2000-2014) using journals indexed in Thomson Reuters Web of Science containg the term "occupational therapy" in their titles.
Abstract: Introduction: “Social question” refers to the association between work and its social integration in a capitalist society, assuming a new contemporal configuration. Issues arising from the social question challenge professionals from different fields to provide relevant technical answers. Objective: This study aims to understand how occupational therapists have been addressing topics related to social question in occupational therapy journals indexed on Web of Science database. Method: An integrative literature review was conducted (2000-2014) using journals indexed in Thomson Reuters’ Web of Science containg the term “occupational therapy” in their titles. Overall, 32 descriptors related to social question were used in our review. Results: The review found 186 texts, for which the abstracts were read and filters were applied to focus on the social question. The remaining 53 texts were read in full and used in our analysis. Several occupational therapy academicians have reflected on the social question. Their focus has mainly been on promoting health and wellness. The present review has a scope limitation because it only analyzes English texts indexed in the Web of Science. Conclusion: Occupational therapists should go beyond health interventions in favor of approaching actions that encompass different fields in order to promote greater social participation for all in a globalized capitalist society.
5 citations
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TL;DR: For example, this paper found that women who experienced discrimination, sex-role conflicts, and concern about starting a family in this country had significantly higher CES-D scores than women who did not report experiencing those situations.
Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to describe levels of acculturative stress and individual stressors and their relationship to levels of depressive symptomatology among young Mexican immigrant women. The mean age of the respondents was 25.7 years with a mean of 9.4 years of education. Their age at migration was 18.5 years and their average length of stay in the United States was 7.5 years. Women who in the last three months experienced discrimination, sex-role conflicts, and concern about starting a family in this country had significantly higher (over 16) CES-D scores than women who did not report experiencing those situations. The overall findings suggest that this sample of Mexican women immigrants as a group are at risk for the development of psychological problems.
275 citations
TL;DR: The social, demographical and political context of the emigration in Europe is described and the needs and (mental) health problems of immigrants are indicated and those factors which may under given conditions, imply an increased risk of psychiatric disorders are identified.
Abstract: This paper is a part of the work of the group that carried out the report "The state of the mental health in Europe" (European Commission, DG Health and Consumer Protection, 2004) and deals with the mental health issues related to the migration in Europe. The paper tries to describe the social, demographical and political context of the emigration in Europe and tries to indicate the needs and (mental) health problems of immigrants. A review of the literature concerning mental health risk in immigrant is also carried out. The work also faces the problem of the health policy toward immigrants and the access to health care services in Europe. Migration during the 1990s has been high and characterised by new migrations. Some countries in Europe, that have been traditionally exporters of migrants have shifted to become importers. Migration has been a key force in the demographic changes of the European population. The policy of closed borders do not stop migration, but rather seems to set up a new underclass of so-called "illegals" who are suppressed and highly exploited. In 2000 there were also 392.200 asylum applications. The reviewed literature among mental health risk in some immigrant groups in Europe concerns: 1) highest rate of schizophrenia; suicide; alcohol and drug abuse; access of psychiatric facilities; risk of anxiety and depression; mental health of EU immigrants once they returned to their country; early EU immigrants in today disadvantaged countries; refugees and mental health Due to the different condition of migration concerning variables as: motivation to migrations (e.g. settler, refugees, gastarbeiters); distance for the host culture; ability to develop mediating structures; legal residential status it is impossible to consider "migrants" as a homogeneous group concerning the risk for mental illness. In this sense, psychosocial studies should be undertaken to identify those factors which may under given conditions, imply an increased risk of psychiatric disorders and influence seeking for psychiatric care. Despite in the migrants some vulnerable groups were identified with respect to health problems, in many European countries there are migrants who fall outside the existing health and social services, something which is particularly true for asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants. In order to address these deficiencies, it is necessary to provide with an adequate financing and a continuity of the grants for research into the multicultural health demand. Finally, there is to highlight the importance of adopting an integrated approach to mental health care that moves away from psychiatric care only.
262 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The study found that racial and class discrimination were rather pervasive in the United States and Experiences of discrimination tended to have a strong negative association with health and accounted for some racial/ethnic differences in health status.
Abstract: In the past decade, racial/ethnic discrepancy in health status has drawn increased attention from academicians, policy makers and planners, service providers, and community advocates. While the field has witnessed a growth in research projects and intervention programs, the gap in health status among racial/ethnic groups persists, which suggests that future research should incorporate a focus on one neglected area, ie, the health implications of discrimination. Using the National Survey of Functional Health (N=1,659), a nationally representative sample of English-speaking persons 18 years of age and older living in non-institutional arrangements within the United States, we analyzed how self-perceived unfairness (discrimination due to racial identity or to low socioeconomic status [SES]) was linked to self-assessed health status. The study found that racial and class discrimination were rather pervasive in the United States. Experiences of discrimination tended to have a strong negative association with health and accounted for some racial/ethnic differences in health status. The study also revealed a complex relationship between experiences of discrimination and social class, suggesting that future research should focus on specifying the social distribution of discrimination and assessing its subsequent association with health.
251 citations
TL;DR: A cultural perspective can help clinicians and researchers become aware of the hidden assumptions and limitations of current psychiatric theory and practice and can identify new approaches appropriate for treating the increasingly diverse populations seen in psychiatric services around the world.
Abstract: Cultural psychiatry is concerned with understanding the impact ofsocial and cultural difference on mental illness and its treatment. As such, it is both a field ofbasic science re search and a major concern for service delivery. Culture has the same ubiquity and transparency as water except at the junction of cultures, where the world is refracted and re flected. The confrontation and intermixing of different cul tural worlds that has always been part of human experience through travel and economic trade has reached a new level of intensity that makes culture increasingly important for psy chiatry. In this article we survey the landscape of cultural psychiatry to see where we have arrived and where we may be going. In the first section, we briefly sketch the history ofcultural psy chiatry to identify its several strands. We then consider the place ofthe concept ofculture in psychiatry. The third section considers models of mental health care for multicultural so cieties, an issue of fundamental importance in the everyday practice ofpsychiatry in most parts of the world. Finally, we consider the impact ofglobalization onpsychiatric theory and practice. The generation of psychiatric knowledge and the evolution of practice reflect cultural values. A cultural cri tique has much to offer the clinician: it can shed light on the
218 citations
TL;DR: A central dilemma is: to what extent are health disparities the result of unequal distribution of resources, and thus a consequence of varied socioeconomic status (or blatant racism), and t how much are they a result of varied socio-economic status?
Abstract: Eliminating the well-documented health disparities found within the United States population is a laudable public policy goal. Social justice demands that we understand the sources of health inequality in order to eliminate them. A central dilemma is: To what extent are health disparities the result f unequal distribution of resources, and thus a consequence of varied socioeconomic status (or blatant racism), and t what extent are…
193 citations