When I was working as a community counselor, I often met immigrants and their families who were emotionally worn out from trying to adjust to or often survive in the United States.
An elder immigrant couple, who had lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years, shared that they were unhappy and felt depressed because, despite all of their efforts, they still did not feel a sense of acceptance and belonging in their community.
I remember helping a frustrated immigrant worker who had been treated unfairly for years while he waited for legal status. At the time of the unfair treatment, he could not say anything because of his fear of being fired and deported. Many immigrant parents shared their struggle to emotionally support their children who were experiencing sadness, anxiety and anger from adjusting to a new environment.
At present, the U.S. population includes more than 40 million immigrants, constituting more than one of every 10 U.S. residents. About one quarter of all youth are from immigrant families, and by the year 2040, immigrant youth are projected to make up a third of young Americans.
In North Carolina, more than 7 percent of the total population is immigrants and the state was reported to have the largest growth rates of children of immigrants. These immigrant families are part of the fabric of our communities, workplaces and schools.
All immigrant families who leave their own country to settle in the U.S. experience various physical, psychological, social and cultural changes and challenges. As they adjust to a new environment, they will often go through a variety of reactions, including excitement and anticipation, and hope as well as anxiety, anger, depression, somatic complaints and illness.
Although some immigrants adapt successfully to their new environment, others may have numerous stressors related to their immigration experience that lead to considerable psychological distress. When they leave their home country, immigrants are often stripped of significant relationships and familiar environments such as community ties, jobs, customs and language, which can cause culture shock, family conflict, social isolation and loneliness.
These changes in relationships, settings and roles may lead to a keen sense of loss. Immigrant children may experience a constellation of changes that have a lasting impact on their development.
Imagine yourself moving to a new country, not knowing the laws, customs and language and then needing to solve a problem, you probably make several attempts to solve it and make mistakes learning the hard way. By being a friendly neighbor, classmate or co-worker, you can help immigrants and their families experience acceptance, approval and a sense of belonging in their new environment.
You can help them understand school events such as open houses and parent-teacher meetings or include them in the community by inviting them to local events. You can speak up for immigrants and their families who are in unhealthy, unfair and unjust situations that lead to human rights violations and negatively affect their mental health.
These networks of relationships can make a significant difference in making their community “home.” Let’s remember the Golden Rule – so whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.
Dr. Ki Byung Chae is an assistant professor of counseling at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Mental Health Matters is a monthly feature provided by Scotland Counseling Center. For more information, visit www.ScotlandCounseling.org.