Articles

Canada accepts over 200 000 immigrants each year, with the top source countries including China, Iran, India, and Pakistan. The stress associated with relocation can put immigrants at increased risk for the development of mental health issues.

Immigrants can face many difficulties upon arriving in Canada, including:

• Language barrier
• Discrimination and lack of tolerance in their new society
• Financial stress
• Homesickness and isolation from one’s culture
• Separation from family and social support system
• Occupational barriers (a professional occupation in a home country does not necessarily transfer in the Canadian job market)

Approximately 20 000 immigrants to Canada each year are refugees. This group may have witnessed or been the victims of war, torture, or persecution in their homeland, leaving them vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

No matter what your experiences have been in your homeland, immigrating to a new country and culture is challenging, and everyone can benefit from support. It is wonderful if you have family or friends who you can rely on. However, many immigrants to Canada arrive here alone and struggle to make social connections.

Over half of Canada’s immigrant population resides in Ontario, and can quickly access Dalton Associates’ psychological counselling services in thirty-five languages, offered at locations throughout Ontario. Languages offered include Cantonese, Mandarin, Farsi, Kurdish, Arabic, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu. You can also use our website to search a therapist by their language specialty. Or, contact us at 1.888.245.5516 to connect with the support you need.

Languages offered at Dalton Associates:
Akan; Arabic; Armenian; Bosnian; Cantonese; Croatian; English; Farsi (Persian); French; Ga; German; Greek; Hebrew; Hindi; Hungarian; Italian; Jamaican; Kurdish; Lingala; Macedonian; Malay; Mandarin; Polish; Portuguese; Punjabi; Romanian; Russian; Serbian; Spanish; Swahili; Turkish; Ukrainian; Urdu; Vietnamese; Yiddish

References:

Canadian Mental Health Association 2012. Immigrants and Refugees. Retrieved from:
http://www.ontario.cmha.ca/about_mental_health.asp?cID=23054

Statistics Canada 2001. Immigrant Status by Period of Immigration, 2001 Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories – 20% Sample Data. Retrieved from: www.statscan.gc.ca