Mental Health and Social Support Among Immigrant Women in Canada: An Arts-Based Study

Canada, a destination for a rising number of immigrants, reports declination in the mental health status of immigrants over time, especially among immigrant women, given the intersection of being immigrants and being women. However, evidence suggests the protective effect of social support on the mental health of these women. Additionally, research shows the positive impact of engagement with art on their mental health. Creating artwork and exchanging social support may occur concurrently in community art programs. Reports on grassroots art projects suggest promising psychological results for participants. Yet, there are scarce Canadian-based studies in this field. My (ongoing) doctoral research project explores immigrant women’s conceptualization of their mental health and the role of art as a research method in helping them express their mental health experiences. In this paper, consistent with my presentation at the International Conference on Mental Health and Addictions, I discuss early findings and implications.