Barriers and facilitators associated with the use of mental health services among immigrant students in high-income countries: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

Background While the mental health of immigrants is a growing issue that is attracting increasing interest from researchers, the same cannot be said for the mental health of immigrant students especially for international students. Indeed, the mental health of immigrant students and their use of mental health services are still poorly documented despite the significant increase in the number of these students in many high-income countries. This scoping review aims to providing an overview and exploring gaps in existing research regarding access to mental health care among immigrant students by identifying barriers and facilitators associated with the use of mental health services in high-income countries. Methods With the help of a professional librarian, we will develop a search strategy including several keywords such as mental health, mental illness, immigrant, students, immigrant students, or international students and access to care or use of mental health services. The following electronic databases will be searched (from their inception onwards): MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, Education Source, and Embase. Studies addressing access to and use of mental health care conducted on immigrant students (adolescent and above) in high-income countries will be included. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, full-text articles, and abstract data. A narrative summary of findings will be conducted. Data analysis will involve quantitative (e.g., frequencies) and qualitative (e.g., content and thematic analysis) methods. Discussion The purpose of this scoping review is to better map the literature on the mental health of immigrant students and their use of mental health care services. In doing so, we aim to identify barriers and facilitators to access and use of mental health care. Identifying barriers and facilitators of mental health services by immigrant students will support the development of appropriate interventions that can help improve access and use of mental health services by immigrant students in high-income countries. Systematic review registration Open Science Framework (osf.io/a2rk6)

Barriers and facilitators associated with the use of mental health services among immigrant students in high-income countries: A systematic scoping review

“…A strength of this review is that we followed a predefined protocol [ 36 ] that enabled a well-structured, rigorous, and systematic approach in arriving at results. Additionally, based on a set of predefined eligibility criteria studies were carefully selected and have yielded potentially useful information regarding the barriers and facilitators of mental health services among immigrant students in high income countries.…”

Knowledge, familiarity, and impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on barriers to seeking mental health services among older people: a cross‐sectional study

“…50 On the contrary, possession of adequate mental health literacy served as a facilitator for accessing MHS. 51 Table 6 Relationship between older adults' perceived mental health distress as an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, knowledge, familiarity, and barriers to seeking mental health services Items Perceived mental health distress as an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic stimulated the revolutionary spread and utilization of online health services and telemedicine as a reliable alternative for on-site clinical interviewing.…”

“…Additionally, limited knowledge of extant services and how to find them can delay the care or break the continuity of receiving it 50 . On the contrary, possession of adequate mental health literacy served as a facilitator for accessing MHS 51 …”

Forensic analysis of suicide deaths: Comparing forensic information with public information and investigating factors contributing to psychiatric consultations

“…Hirai et al 32 suggested that positive attitudes toward treatment by family members or partners and encouragement to seek mental health care from close relatives may have a positive impact on patients' chances of receiving mental health care. [33][34][35][36][37][38] For example, a family member or partner who discovers self-injury or trauma recommends that the patient could visit an emergency room, and the physician refers the patient to a psychiatrist; thus, witnessing self-injury may lead to medical support for the patient. The middle-aged group was recorded as having a higher history of psychiatric consultation than other age groups.…”