Mental Health
Migrant and refugee communities experience can experience higher rates of poor mental health than others.
Refugees, particularly, often have complex mental health needs shaped by traumatic experiences in their country of origin.
Both migrants and refugees lack access to mental health services and/or experience barriers to accessing them in New Zealand.
Following a series of consultations last year with key stakeholders working towards the mental health of newcomers, we are advocating for the following:
Increased access to professional interpreters throughout New Zealand via a national toll-free or online service
Funding the creation of health/cultural/community navigator positions (if possible, per community) to improve access to services
Funding Mental Health First Aid courses tailored to ethnic communities.
We are working with AUT Migrant and Refugee Health Research Centre, the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, Refugees as Survivors New Zealand Trust, Hato Hone St John and Asian Family Services to highlight the importance of mental health needs for migrants and former refugees. We are also exploring how we may be able to collaborate with government to help foster appropriate, timely and effective access to mental health services.
You can support our advocacy work by donating to Belong Aotearoa.
