Browsing by Author "Shankar, Janki"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Education as a Social Determinant of Health: Issues Facing Indigenous and Visible Minority Students in Postsecondary Education in Western Canada
    (MDPI, 2013-08-28) Shankar, Janki; Ip, Eugene; Khalema, Ernest; Couture, Jennifer; Tan, Shawn; Zulla, Rosslynn T.; Lam, Gavin
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Examining Mental Health Status and Mental Health Service Utilization by Visible Minority Immigrants in Canada: Adopting a Social Determinants of Health and Intersectionality Approach
    (2016) Ip, Conita Kit Ching; Shankar, Janki; Walsh, Christine; Lee, Yeonjung
    The number of visible minority immigrants to Canada is increasing rapidly. However, studies on mental health experiences associated with migration-related challenges are limited. Drawing on social determinants of health and intersectionality frameworks, this study investigated the relationship between social contextual factors and mental health outcomes (self-perceived mental health and life stress, and diagnosed mood and anxiety disorders) and mental health service utilization among visible minority immigrant adults in Canada. Data were drawn from the 2009-2010 Canadian Community Health Survey, which provided a sample of 5,870 visible minority immigrant adults aged 18 to 64 from 13 Canadian provinces and territories and a comparison group of 68,932 Canadian-born white adults. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the relationship between socio-demographic factors and mental health outcomes and service use. Analysis results revealed no significant differences in self-perceived mental health between visible minority immigrant and Canadian-born white adults. Within-group multivariate logistic regression modeling revealed that male gender, employed status, mid- or high-range household income, and strong sense of community belonging were recurring protective factors against poor mental health, while longer-term immigrant status was a recurring risk factor for visible minority immigrants. Analysis of interactions between correlates revealed that when compared to all other intersecting immigrant and Canadian-born social identities, middle-aged visible minority immigrant adults and visible minority immigrant adults with a mid-range household income were the combined social identities associated with poor perceived mental health, high perceived life stress, and diagnosed mood disorders. Visible minority immigrants with poor perceived mental health and high perceived life stress were less likely than Canadian-born adults to report using mental health services, but those with diagnosed mood or anxiety disorders were as likely as Canadian-born adults to have used services. Despite some limitations, this study contributes to the current body of literature on ethno-cultural immigrant mental health by examining multiple mental health outcomes and help-seeking patterns using a social determinant of health perspective in the context of intersectionality, examining the combined effects of multiple social identities. The study results also challenge conventional assumptions about the “healthy immigrant effect” and “transitional effect” in visible minority immigrant’s mental health, contributing to a more complex understanding of this important issue.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Perspectives on Employment Integration, Mental Illness and Disability, and Workplace Health
    (2014-11-20) Khalema, Nene Ernest; Shankar, Janki
    This paper reviews the literature on the interplay between employment integration and retention of individuals diagnosed with mental health and related disability (MHRD). Specifically, the paper addresses the importance of an integrative approach, utilizing a social epidemiological approach to assess various factors that are related to the employment integration of individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness. Our approach to the review incorporates a research methodology that is multilayered, mixed, and contextual. The review examines the literature that aims to unpack employers’ understanding of mental illness and their attitudes, beliefs, and practices about employing workers with mental illness. Additionally we offer a conceptual framework entrenched within the social determinants of the mental health (SDOMH) literature as a way to contextualize the review conclusions. This approach contributes to a holistic understanding of workplace mental health conceptually and methodologically particularly as practitioners and policy makers alike are grappling with better ways to integrate employees who are diagnosed with mental health and disabilities into to the workplace.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Service providers’ perspectives on help-seeking among Black Immigrant women experiencing domestic violence: An Exploratory Study
    (2023-10-13) Asante, Benedicta Ofosuhemaa; Shankar, Janki; Tam, Dora; Warria, Ajwang; Vareed, Baiju
    This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of domestic violence (DV) service providers regarding the effectiveness of domestic violence services, as well as the factors that influence domestic violence survivors’ decisions when accessing such services. To achieve this, a hermeneutic phenomenology approach was used to explore the perspectives of ten service providers on the support resources available to Black immigrant survivors and the adequacy of these services. The results of this qualitative research revealed that Black immigrant women face numerous barriers when seeking help for domestic violence, such as language barriers, fear of deportation, cultural barriers, financial challenges, and lack of knowledge of available resources and services. Additionally, the Westernized views on domestic violence of service providers and the delivery of Westernized services and programs hinder help-seeking. Despite the availability of numerous services and support for domestic violence survivors, service providers often fail to recognize the intersections of racism, classism, and sexism that uniquely impact Black immigrant survivors and present a ‘one size fits all’ approach to service delivery. The findings underscore the importance of critically examining the types of services and interventions offered by DV service providers to ensure they are appropriate and effective in serving the needs of Black immigrant survivors of DV. The study participants provided recommendations to facilitate positive experiences for Black immigrant survivors receiving formal services. The implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Social Workers’ Perspectives on the Connection Between Later Life Trauma and Older Adults’ Mental Health and Overall Well-being
    (2024-09-13) Shrestha, Laxman Prasad; Lee, Yeonjung; Gulbrandsen, Carolyne (Cari); Archer-Kuhn, Beth Elizabeth; Shankar, Janki; Kwan, Crystal
    This research explores gerontological social workers’ perspectives and experiences responding to later-life trauma (LLT) and its impacts on older adults’ mental health and overall well-being, as well as their experiences with support, services, and resources available to older adults in their communities. A critical ethnography approach was utilized to investigate the experiences of social workers, recruited from agencies in Calgary, who have two or more years of working experience with older adults with histories of traumas. The findings of this qualitative study demonstrate that LLT significantly impacts older adults’ mental health and overall well-being. Capitalism-oriented societies and policymakers continue to marginalize this critical social issue. The study's results recognize the prevalence of ageism, discrimination, stereotypes, prejudices, and negative social assumptions and attitudes and describe how they exacerbate LLT. This study elaborates on specific factors contributing to intersecting multilayered barriers, such as social/self-stigma (shame, guilt, fear, and negative beliefs), systemic barriers, and limited programs, services, and resources for older adults. Although the number of older adults is growing locally and globally at the fastest rate in history, limited attention has been devoted to older adults and their issues related to LLT, compared to their younger counterparts. Older adults’ trauma is assumed to be normal and natural, even though the impacts of trauma are unique to each person. The results of this research reinforce how ageism and capitalistic social norms play pivotal roles in the stereotypes of and discrimination against older adults and their issues related to LLT. This study provided essential policy and practice recommendations to support older adults with LLT to ensure trauma-informed and age-friendly programs, services, and resources. The implications for policy, practice, and further research are discussed and presented.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    “Where Should I go? Who can I cry to?” The Perspectives of South Asian Immigrant Women In Edmonton who have Experienced Domestic Violence
    (2020-09-21) Deenoo, Manawaty Davie; Shankar, Janki; Samson, Patricia L.; Chen, Shuping
    This study is about ten South Asian immigrant women survivors of domestic violence in Edmonton, Alberta. The study explores their experiences and perspectives on domestic violence and the challenges they faced in accessing services and supports in Edmonton. The research questions that guided the study were (a) What are the lived experiences of South Asian immigrant women who have experienced domestic violence, and how does culture influence their access to services and support systems? (b) What are the perspectives of South Asian immigrant women survivors of domestic violence on the formal services and supports they received? and (c) What services and interventions would these women like to have received? A qualitative research design and an interpretive phenomenological approach were used to explore the research questions. In-depth face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten South Asian survivors of domestic violence, and the data were analyzed by using thematic analysis. The findings highlight that the women experienced multiple forms of abuse and faced several intersecting barriers that delayed their access to services and supports for domestic violence. Cultural beliefs and practices were only one of the multiple intersecting variables that influenced their access to services and supports. The women’s experiences with formal services and support providers were mainly negative, and the women described the domestic violence support system as fragmented, uncoordinated, and overextended. The women’s experiences and recommendations call for an overall systemic change in this system so that it can meet the needs of racialized minority women experiencing violence. The study concludes by making recommendations for changes to this system.