Caught between two worlds: mental health literacy and stigma among bicultural youth

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Bicultural youths are at higher risk of mental health problems and are less likely to utilize mental health services, yet our knowledge of their mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviours remains limited.

Methods

To fill this gap, the current study explored bicultural youths’ mental health literacy and stigma by conducting semi-structured interviews with 14 Canadian university students in 2021.

Results

Our analysis revealed that bicultural youths may be torn between two worlds: intergenerational tensions between participants assimilated into individualistic Canadian culture and their more collectivist parents meant that they had different cultural perceptions of mental health literacy and stigma. While being caught between these two worlds may be detrimental for bicultural youth, our results also suggested that a trans-cultural factor—celebrities’ mental health journeys—may promote help-seeking behaviour across participants. Furthermore, our study speaks to the ways that unprecedented events such as the COVID-19 pandemic impact mental health literacy among bicultural youth. Our findings might be used by university mental health services to encourage help-seeking among bicultural students.

Conclusion

The acculturation of mental health literacy, stigma, and associated intergenerational differences needs to be considered by university wellness services.

KEYWORDS:

• Bicultural youth
• acculturation
• mental health literacy
• culture
• stigma
• Canada

Acknowledgments

This research was facilitated by the second author’s Undergraduate Student Research Award at McMaster University.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by an internal award in the Faculty of Social Sciences at McMaster University.

Notes on contributors

Ariel Kwegyir Tsiboe

Ariel Kwegyir Tsiboe is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Health, Aging and Society at McMaster University. He is interested in aged care research, relationships, and qualitative research.

Shruthi Raghuraman

Shruthi Raghuraman is an undergraduate student in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour at McMaster University. Her focus interest lies within the field of psychology, acculturation and qualitative research.

Tara C. Marshall

Tara C. Marshall is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health, Aging and Society at McMaster University. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, her research investigates micro and macro-level influences on close relationships, cultural encounters, and mental health.