Migration, Health and Help-seeking in Childhood

Migration, be it voluntary or forced, can have multiple consequences for the mental and physical health of the individuals concerned. In addition, it is not uncommon for these consequences to be passed on from one generation to the other. In this thesis we described how migration can influence mental health, health-related quality of life and help-seeking in childhood. We confirm the findings of previous research by showing that disparities between migrants and non-migrants in mental health and health-related quality of life exist, even in the preschool years. It is of importance to address these disparities early in life to prevent them from getting larger. Qualitative research allowed us to explore more profoundly perceptions of mental health help-seeking among adolescent girls and mothers with different ethnic backgrounds. Barriers were identified in both Dutch and non-Dutch focus group discussions which shows that access to mental health services by youth in need should be reassessed and improved. Scaling up preventive and treatment programs in schools may be a first step. In ethnic minority groups, additional efforts should be made to reduce the stigmas and taboos associated with mental health problems. In conclusion, this thesis underlines the important influence migration can have on health, even in early life. The results of the presented studies provide potential directions for the development of strategies that tackle disparities in child health such as, a focus on improving family circumstances.