Access to Mental Health Services of Undocumented Immigrants
It is estimated that 11 million undocumented immigrants currently reside in the United States. It is well established that this population faces numerous obstacles surrounding employment, education, health care, and more. However, one issue in particular is greatly overlooked and that is the limited access to mental health care services undocumented immigrants receive. Although neglected, this issue is one of the most critical facing the undocumented community.
It is difficult enough for undocumented immigrants to readily have access to basic health care services, as they do not benefit under the Affordable Care Act nor are they eligible to buy Marketplace health coverage, but because of the added complication of the stigma of mental illness and other barriers it is even more difficult for the undocumented population to have easy access to mental health professionals. It has been found that undocumented immigrants face a higher amount of psychological stressors. Furthermore, undocumented adolescents especially face higher instances of anxiety and depression because of stress relating to higher education and employment. Despite all this undocumented immigrants have a significantly lower use of mental health care services. Language barriers, unfamiliarity with the healthcare system, limited finances, difficulties with transportation, and a lack of culturally relevant services all contribute to the lower utilization of mental health carer services by undocumented immigrants. Additionally, fear of deportation, discrimination, and the stigma of mental illness are major barriers as well and are, perhaps, the most difficult to resolve.
When examining this issue it is important to note the large role that fear, whether fear of deportation or fear of admitting that one has a mental illness, plays in limiting the use of mental health care services. This fear is the result of one pervasive issue in society, the prejudice and discrimination of both undocumented immigrants and those suffering from a mental illness. In the United States undocumented immigrants are vilified for “stealing” resources and jobs and it is forgotten that everyone, no matter what the belief is on illegal discrimination, deserves to have reasonable health care. Undocumented immigrants fear this general animosity and due to this fear choose not to use available services. The stigma of mental illness is also deeply entrenched into not only American society but globally. Even if undocumented immigrants didn’t face discrimination due to their legal status they would still face difficulty in seeking treatment because of a general and fundamentally incorrect belief that suffering from a mental disorder either makes one weak and inferior or dangerous and deranged. While there has been some headway into lessening this belief there is still a long way to go until seeing a therapist is seen as “normal” and until then undocumented immigrants, who often may come from a country where this stigma is even stronger than it is in the United States, will still find that even if they do gain access to mental health care services may choose not to take advantage of them because of this stigma.
It is difficult enough for undocumented immigrants to readily have access to basic health care services, as they do not benefit under the Affordable Care Act nor are they eligible to buy Marketplace health coverage, but because of the added complication of the stigma of mental illness and other barriers it is even more difficult for the undocumented population to have easy access to mental health professionals. It has been found that undocumented immigrants face a higher amount of psychological stressors. Furthermore, undocumented adolescents especially face higher instances of anxiety and depression because of stress relating to higher education and employment. Despite all this undocumented immigrants have a significantly lower use of mental health care services. Language barriers, unfamiliarity with the healthcare system, limited finances, difficulties with transportation, and a lack of culturally relevant services all contribute to the lower utilization of mental health carer services by undocumented immigrants. Additionally, fear of deportation, discrimination, and the stigma of mental illness are major barriers as well and are, perhaps, the most difficult to resolve.
When examining this issue it is important to note the large role that fear, whether fear of deportation or fear of admitting that one has a mental illness, plays in limiting the use of mental health care services. This fear is the result of one pervasive issue in society, the prejudice and discrimination of both undocumented immigrants and those suffering from a mental illness. In the United States undocumented immigrants are vilified for “stealing” resources and jobs and it is forgotten that everyone, no matter what the belief is on illegal discrimination, deserves to have reasonable health care. Undocumented immigrants fear this general animosity and due to this fear choose not to use available services. The stigma of mental illness is also deeply entrenched into not only American society but globally. Even if undocumented immigrants didn’t face discrimination due to their legal status they would still face difficulty in seeking treatment because of a general and fundamentally incorrect belief that suffering from a mental disorder either makes one weak and inferior or dangerous and deranged. While there has been some headway into lessening this belief there is still a long way to go until seeing a therapist is seen as “normal” and until then undocumented immigrants, who often may come from a country where this stigma is even stronger than it is in the United States, will still find that even if they do gain access to mental health care services may choose not to take advantage of them because of this stigma.
The results of the limited access of mental health care services on an individual are often serious and long lasting. Undocumented adolescents may turn towards self medication and substance abuse, it has been found that undocumented children are especially prone to these types of disorders, as a result of not having professional services. Undocumented immigrants may also develop more serious depression and anxiety disorders and in extreme cases this may lead to suicide. This does not affect the wellbeing of solely the individual but also close family members and oftentimes the entire community especially if something so drastic as suicide occurs.
Due to the unique set of circumstances, undocumented immigrants are subject to very particular mental health complications that are usually due to their precarious legal situation. It may be possible to alleviate this issue of limited access to mental health care but to truly solve this problem broader steps must be taken to give undocumented immigrants further rights and safety that would directly address the main cause of psychological stress: limited access to healthcare, occupational opportunities, and legal fears. Ideally this would eventually be done on a national and federal level but assistance should start in small local communities. It is crucial to the health and well being of undocumented adolescents, who are particularly vulnerable, that changes is policy are made to ensure that they have access to one of their fundamental human rights, reasonably accessible healthcare.
Due to the unique set of circumstances, undocumented immigrants are subject to very particular mental health complications that are usually due to their precarious legal situation. It may be possible to alleviate this issue of limited access to mental health care but to truly solve this problem broader steps must be taken to give undocumented immigrants further rights and safety that would directly address the main cause of psychological stress: limited access to healthcare, occupational opportunities, and legal fears. Ideally this would eventually be done on a national and federal level but assistance should start in small local communities. It is crucial to the health and well being of undocumented adolescents, who are particularly vulnerable, that changes is policy are made to ensure that they have access to one of their fundamental human rights, reasonably accessible healthcare.