“Medicine doesn’t cure my worries”: Understanding the drivers of mental distress of older Nepalese women living in the UK
Journal article
Sah, L., Burgess, R. and Sah, R. 2018. “Medicine doesn’t cure my worries”: Understanding the drivers of mental distress of older Nepalese women living in the UK. Global Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2018.1473888
Authors | Sah, L., Burgess, R. and Sah, R. |
---|---|
Abstract | The mental health of migrant communities is an important public health concern. A growing body of literature suggests that wider social determinants significantly contribute to the mental health and wellbeing of older migrants in their host countries. Despite the increasing population of Nepalese migrants in the UK, there is little research exploring the mental health needs of this community. This article explores older Nepalese women’s experiences of drivers of mental distress in London. Data was collected using in-depth interviews with 20 older Nepalese women living in the London Borough of Greenwich. Grounded thematic analysis of women’s narratives identified six overarching factors contributing to their emotional distress that pose significant risks to their mental health: absence of family, language barriers, housing problems, physical illness, lack of appropriate support, fears of death, and inadequate financial resources. In many cases, the impact of these factors was felt in combination rather than isolation, often influenced by cultural dynamics. Findings highlight that re-settlement in the absence of family is at the heart of emotional challenges for older Nepalese women. The paper concludes with a series of recommendations for supporting processes of settlement to mitigate this risk among older Nepalese women in the UK. |
Year | 2018 |
Journal | Global Public Health |
Publisher | Taylor & Francis |
ISSN | 1744-1692 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2018.1473888 |
Publication dates | |
Online | 15 May 2018 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 19 Jun 2018 |
Accepted | 01 Apr 2018 |
Accepted author manuscript | |
Output status | Published |
https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/88v43/-medicine-doesn-t-cure-my-worries-understanding-the-drivers-of-mental-distress-of-older-nepalese-women-living-in-the-uk
Download files
Accepted author manuscript
130
total views295
total downloads0
views this month0
downloads this month