Integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cultural Humility to Support Newcomer and Refugee Youth Mental Health in Canada
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Authors
Ziad, Abas
Issue Date
2026-01-06
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
acceptance and commitment therapy , cultural humility , newcomer youth , refugee youth , stigma , help-seeking , psychological flexibility
Alternative Title
Abstract
This Capstone examines how newcomer and refugee youth in Canada reach mental health support and what helps them stay engaged once they arrive. Across Canada, immigration is reshaping schools, communities, and service systems, yet immigrant and refugee youth continue to use formal mental health services less often than Canadian born peers, even when distress is high. The project asks two questions. First, how do multilevel barriers, including structural conditions and public, family, and self stigma, shape newcomer and refugee youths' help seeking in Canada. Second, which counselling practices grounded in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and in cultural humility (CH) show promise for reducing stigma related barriers and improving engagement. An integrative literature review synthesized qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, and conceptual work published between 2015 and 2025. Six themes were developed. Three describe how structural and systemic constraints, cultural and stigma related processes, and navigation gaps combine to delay disclosure, reduce uptake, and weaken continuity of care. Three identify practice directions that draw on ACT processes such as psychological flexibility and values guided action, along with a CH stance that attends to power, context, and partnership. The Capstone argues that improving engagement requires attention to both external pathways of access, language, and navigation and internal pathways of shame, avoidance, and meaning-making. Chapter Three translates this integrated ACT plus CH framework into a practice focused toolkit with concrete strategies for more culturally safe, accessible, and sustainable mental health support for newcomer and refugee youth.