Stigma, cultural competency, and language barriers may serve as inhibiting factors to mental health help-seeking within immigrant communities, which contributes to the lack of efficiency and accessibility of mental health resources. Are immigrants simply opting
to not treat their mental health because it is too hard to get help? If it exists, what are the possible stigmas behind receiving mental health services, and how can we address them to increase the quality of life in immigrants? To examine these issues, interviews were conducted among immigrants in St. Louis and an expert within this field. Discussing stigma and accessibility to services within these communities are significant components to better understanding the potential barriers to seeking help. We aim to shed light on making mental health services more efficient and accessible to immigrants.
Aliyah Adnan is a senior majoring in Psychology (Bachelors of Science) with a minor in Biology. Locally from Saint Louis, she is equipped to participate in service on and off campus and dedicate time to the community and her family. Upon graduating, she intends to attend medical school and pursue a career in psychiatry to expand her expertise in psychology further. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and hiking!
Kennedy Crye (she/her) is a senior from the suburbs of Chicago, IL studying Psychology with a minor in Nutrition, Health, and Wellness, on the Pre-Physical Therapy track. During her time at SLU, serving as the undergrad liaison for the College of Arts and Sciences Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives- she has aimed to leave a footprint that recognizes, values, and celebrates diversity. Upon graduating, she plans to further her education in the field of Clinical Mental Health. Furthering this, she would like to continue her education in Physical Therapy to obtain her DPT. She hopes to professionally embark on a journey that promotes overall mental and physical wellbeing across multiple disciplines.
Stavroula Tsolakidou, an international student from Greece, is a senior majoring in Psychology at Saint Louis University. She has also been a chess player since she was eight years old, with international accomplishments that have led her become a member of the SLU chess team, one of the top universities for chess in the United States. After graduating with a B.A. in psychology, she will play chess professionally, and she might pursue further graduate studies in counseling or sports psychology in the future. She hopes to combine chess and psychology, especially as her chess career has made her understand the importance of sports psychology for athletes and their performance.
Christine Philip (she/her) is a senior at Saint Louis University majoring in Psychology. She has spent her time at SLU serving in a number of leadership roles around campus in multicultural and service organizations. After graduating from SLU, she hopes to pursue a career in physical therapy where she can use her knowledge in psychology to enhance rehabilitation for patients.
We would like to thank Dr. Warner for her feedback and insight from the formulation to the completion of our project.