Women’s Health Academic Centre Effect of migration and stressful life events on women’s mental health and quality of life Laura Nellums MSc, PhD Student Dr Stephani Hatch :: Prof. Louise M. Howard Section for Women’s Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London Funding: National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London / ORS Award / King’s International Graduate Scholarship. Background International migration: change in usual country of residence 4.5 million migrants in UK; 3 million in London No consensus on relationship between migration and mental health Some migrant women may be at increased risk of poor mental health outcomes Limited research on predictors of poor mental health for migrant women Qualitative methods: Appropriate for research with diverse populations, on sensitive topics, can provide individual perspective This study part of a mixed methods study using data from a cross-sectional community survey (South East London Community Health (SELCoH) Study 1 ) Post-colonial feminist research methods Preliminary results: Characteristics of sample: 30 women: 20 immigrant women; 10 women born in the UK Nearly 80% of women interviewed disclosed experiencing abuse Thematic analysis: Three interrelated key themes: Contextual factors women perceived to affect their mental health and well-being Significant events women perceived to impact on their mental health and well-being Changes in health and well-being attributed to the preceding themes Conclusions: Research and services should acknowledge: Impact of powerlessness and abuse on mental health and well-being Migrant women may be at increased risk of these experiences, and they may present barriers to help-seeking Further research on risk factors for poor mental health among migrant women needed (e.g. quantitative) Aims to investigate: What experiences women in diverse communities in London perceive to affect their mental health and well-being; How women’s mental health and well-being have been affected by these experiences; How these experiences and their impact differ for first generation immigrant women and women born in the UK. Changes in mental health and well- being Significant events Contextual factors Contextual factors: Relocation (including migration) I got married and I came here…I’m not like the person who…want to go to the foreign countries and this and that because the family ties are very strong and my roots are there. So in the beginning when I was coming I was crying definitely (participant 16, migrant (migrated for partner)). Powerlessness Significant events Powerlessness and abuse He beat me… I’m still suffering because of that bastard person who bring me from [my country of origin] and now I’m outside of world…I have a immigration problems …visa is run out…they consider me like I’m a illegal person, even he bring me over here to get married and his responsibility to give me this right to stay over here…It’s very bad because you know, I’m suffering from six years and nothing help me with my life, it’s just my health and my health going down. I try three or four times suicide (participant 12, migrant (migrated for partner)). Abuse Significant events Changes in health Changes in emotional health I think after [my nephew] passed away, I haven’t had, I don’t feel like I had anything positive or anything to look forward to in life…it kind of brought something on a high and suddenly on a low, because of what happened (participant 21, born in the UK) ‘Whole body’ Was actually very stressed, so I would get almost like asthma, I get hay fever…during the period I was having all this stress… I put on weight and then hair became… more grey… there was physical manifestations of the stress. Participant 20, migrant (migrated for partner). Study population: Immigrant women and women born in the UK Recruitment: purposive sampling from 1) community organisations; 2) SELCoH Study Data collection: Semi-structured in-depth interviews Use of translation Analysis: Thematic analysis 1 SELCoH Study: uk/about-us/biomedical-research-centre/about-the-brc/core-facilities/south-east-london-community-health-(selcoh)-survey.aspx Not for reproduction or distribution