"If You Say You Have Mental Health Issues, Then You Are Mad": Perceptions of Mental Health in the Parenting Practices of African Immigrants in Canada

The health and wellbeing of African children and families, as an emerging demographic, is of interest and concern to various stakeholders in Canada. Yet, few studies have examined how parents and other members of the African community perceive the concept of mental health. This paper examines the perceptions of mental health of African community members concerning parenting children of African heritage. We used critical ethnography and transnational feminist theory to examine mental health perceptions and parenting practices among African immigrants living in Alberta, Canada. Data were drawn from a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 58 participants made up of parents, community leaders, service providers and policymakers. Findings show that linguistic differences, cultural beliefs, and life experiences playa role in how African immigrants living within the Canadian context view mental health and mental health difficulties. African immigrant parents struggle with the tension of holding traditional cultural views of wellness in an environment where structures and services are centred around Western notions of mental health and illness and the potential impact this can have on their parenting practices and children's mental health. Recommendations for resolving conflicts relating to mental health perceptions are discussed to enhance service access and provision among African immigrant families in Canada and other Western countries.