Immigrant Women and Mental Health Care: Findings from an Environmental Scan

Immigrant women's mental health is a growing public health policy issue. New immigrant mothers may be particularly vulnerable to less than optimal mental health following childbirth given the cultural and geographic isolation, socioeconomic factors, gender roles, and language difficulties that influence their postpartum experiences. The purpose of this environmental scan was to increase understanding of immigrant women's perinatal mental health care services within the interior of a western Canadian province. Four interrelated themes emerged to impact postpartum health of immigrant women: (i) community capacity building, (ii) facilitators of mental health support and care, (iii) barriers of mental health promotion and support, and (iv) public policy and postpartum depression. Knowledge gained from this study contributes to healthy public policy and practices that promote mental health and support among immigrant women.