An Examination of the Lived Experiences of Social Workers Providing Mental Health Services to Immigrant Populations

Background and Purpose:

Mental health service utilization rates remain low among the general US population, despite a growing prevalence of mental health disorders. Immigrant service users, according to published literature, often demonstrate an equal or greater need for mental health services, compared to the general US population. Despite having an equal or greater need, immigrant service often utilize formal mental health services at rates lower than the general US population. Clinical social workers comprise the majority of mental health service providers, but there is a dearth of research examining mental health service provision with immigrants, from a social work perspective. Using a phenomenological approach, this qualitative study examined social workers' experiences in mental health service provision to immigrant/refugee populations. Additionally, the study examined social workers' perceptions of barriers immigrants encounter in seeking formal mental health care and recommendations for improving mental health service provision to immigrant/refugee clients.

Methods:

Using social-ecological theory, this study used a phenomenological approach to examine the aims. Purposive sampling was used to recruit social work professionals who provided mental health services, and worked with immigrant/refugee populations for at least two years. The sample (n=20) comprised social workers employed in schools, inpatient hospitals, and community based hospital program. Participants were from diverse ethnicities (1 Asian, 10 Black, 4 Latinx, 5 White), and genders (3 male, 17 female). Data was collected using an depth, face to face, semi structured interview lasting 60-90 minutes. Thematic analysis was used as a data analysis strategy and included a five step process. This method was congruent with phenomenology, due to its highlighting lived experiences.

Results

Five broad themes emerged from the data. (1) tracing trajectories into careers as helping professionals, (2) developing mental health as an area of practice, (3) practitioner perspectives of the immigrants' journeys into the mental health system, (4) experiences of service provision to immigrant populations, and (5) practitioner perspectives about unmet needs in practice within organizational contexts. Findings revealed social worker’s descriptions of multiple levels of individual, environmental, and structural barriers to mental health service utilization, encountered by immigrant populations. Findings demonstrated that social workers did not feel adequately prepared to address their clients’ complex needs, due to lack of knowledge about immigration policy, and a perceived lack of organizational support.

Conclusion

Social workers are unique among other mental health professionals, in the focus on how humans interact with their social environment. This study highlighted social worker specific insight into experiences working with immigrant populations, including interactions on the individual, structural, community, and policy levels. Findings reaffirm the necessity for social workers to deepen their commitment to immigrants and refugees by engaging social movement strategies and mobilizing resources through coalition building. This study took place in a large, traditionally immigrant receiving Northeastern city, but findings are widely applicable. Presently, many cities nationwide are receiving large numbers of immigrants, and will need to rapidly adapt to the service needs of these populations.