What do international studies tell us about immigrant worker mental health?
• It has been reported that recent immigrants to Canada with high levels of education are under-employed in peripheral jobs (jobs that include self-employed, temporary or part time workers with insecure access to hours of work). It was also reported that they have little access to training on the job that provide opportunities for promotion. • One study conducted in the United States amongst migrant farm workers found that 38% of participants had significant levels of stress, and over 41% met diagnostic criteria for depression. It was also found that social anxiety and working conditions were associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Social isolation was more significantly linked with anxiety while working conditions were more significantly linked with depression. • A survey conducted by The National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS) in the United States found that psychiatric disorders and mental distress were significantly less likely in individuals who were employed and
