Experiences of depression among African immigrant men in southern Alberta, Canada
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Date
2022
Authors
Agyapong, Daniel
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Health Sciences
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Health Sciences
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of depression among African
immigrant men in Southern Alberta. The study adopted an exploratory descriptive qualitative
research design using focused semi-structured interviews with ten African immigrant men.
Thematic analysis showed that African men went through episodes of sadness and frustrations due to intersection of challenges post-migration, which negatively impacted both their physical and mental health. However, instead of seeking professional help, they employed a series of coping mechanisms to mitigate, tolerate, or overcome the mental distress. It was evident that African men’s cultural constructions around masculinity influenced how they perceived, interpreted, and expressed their mental distress. Culture and masculinity also shaped their strategies for coping with the mental distress and behaviour towards help-seeking. It is recommended that stakeholders and policy makers apply cultural safety approaches to support African immigrant men to enhance their mental well-being.
Description
Keywords
Mental Health , African immigrant men , Depression , African masculinity , Coping strategies , Culture and masculinity , Help-seeking