Religious Beliefs and Attitudes Towards Mental Health and Support Seeking Among Afro-Caribbean Christian Immigrants
No Thumbnail Available
Authors
Nembhard, Glenice
Issue Date
2025-08-07
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
religion , religious beliefs , Christian , attitudes , mental health , mental health support , Black , immigrants , Christian immigrants , Afro-Caribbean Christian immigrants , Afro-Caribbean
Alternative Title
Abstract
This review explores the relationship between religious beliefs, attitudes toward mental health, and support seeking among Afro-Caribbean Christian immigrants in Canada. Included studies were peer reviewed, published in English between 2017 and 2025, and explored intersections among religion, mental health, and immigrants (e.g., Christian immigrants and Afro-Christian immigrants). Findings revealed migration is associated with financial difficulty due to unemployment and underemployment, cultural differences between country of origin and the new host country, language barriers, and availability and accessibility of services. These social and economic challenges are key contributors to the mental health and well-being of Afro-Caribbean immigrants. To cope with these challenges Afro-Caribbean Christian immigrants rely on religious beliefs and practices albeit with positive and negative implications on their perceptions of mental health and their attitudes toward seeking support. Some Afro-Caribbean Christian immigrants prefer to rely on religious coping methods such as praying, fasting, and worshipping while those who explore formal mental health support feel hindered by stigma associated with religious and other cultural beliefs. Findings highlight the necessity of psychoeducation about mental health in Black communities, the involvement of religious/spiritual leaders in merging the gap between mental health and religion in Black communities, and the incorporation of religion and religious beliefs in the therapeutic space. Further research into the role of gender, denominations, and cross-generational practices within Afro-Caribbean immigrant communities is needed to refine practice and policy.