Exploring mental healthcare needs and challenges of Syrian refugee women in Winnipeg

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dc.contributor.authorNewaz, Sanjida
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteeHatala, Andrew (Community Health Sciences)en_US
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteeBonnycastle, Marleny (Social Work)en_US
dc.contributor.supervisorRiediger, Natalie (Community Health Sciences)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2020-04-02T11:31:19Z
dc.date.available2020-04-02T11:31:19Z
dc.date.copyright2020-04-01
dc.date.issued2020-03en_US
dc.date.submitted2020-03-22T00:55:30Zen_US
dc.date.submitted2020-04-02T01:23:48Zen_US
dc.degree.disciplineCommunity Health Sciencesen_US
dc.degree.levelMaster of Science (M.Sc.)en_US
dc.description.abstractThe UN Refugee Agency reports that 70.8 million people have been forcibly displaced at the end of 2018. Canada has a long history of accepting refugees and is the second largest resettlement country in the world. While refugees arrive to safety and protection in Canada, language, socio-economic barriers, and cultural differences contribute to struggles. The effects of war, family separation, displacement and long travel may pose more stresses on women, particularly when overlapping with pregnancy, childbirth, and caring for children. Considering the recent influx of refugees, particularly from Syria, it is important to understand how Manitoba is addressing the mental health needs of Syrian refugee women. The objectives of this study were to 1) conduct a literature review on the mental healthcare needs and barriers in accessing services by refugee women in the Canadian context; 2) explore the perspectives of Syrian Refugee women on how they experience mental health and the healthcare system in Winnipeg; 3) explore the perspectives of service providers and decision-makers on how refugee women experience mental health and access healthcare services in Winnipeg; and 4) provide policy recommendations to improve mental healthcare services in Manitoba based on the research findings. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Syrian refugee women and service providers/decision makers in Winnipeg. The data were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis and coded for themes aided by NVivo 12 software. The findings presented in two broad subject areas – barriers in accessing mental healthcare services and strategies to improve mental healthcare services for refugee women in Winnipeg. Most cited barriers by refugee women were language, weather, employment and income level, stigma and system navigation. The service providers mentioned stigma, and lack of resources to provide culturally competent care. Collaboration among agencies, leadership at all levels, and education for both refugee women and service providers were also mentioned. This study recommends that service providers use guidelines developed by UNHCR in providing culturally competent care, decision makers take leadership roles in implementing better collaboration among agencies, the employers be open in hiring refugees, and educational initiatives for the broader society to ensure that refugees feel welcomed and included.en_US
dc.description.noteMay 2020en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1993/34624
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsopen accessen_US
dc.subjectRefugee womenen_US
dc.subjectSyriaen_US
dc.subjectMental healthen_US
dc.subjectAccess barriersen_US
dc.subjectMental healthcare needsen_US
dc.subjectMental healthcare challengesen_US
dc.subjectWinnipegen_US
dc.subjectEuropean Responseen_US
dc.titleExploring mental healthcare needs and challenges of Syrian refugee women in Winnipegen_US
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
local.subject.manitobayesen_US
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