As a significant minority, there are particular challenges faced by Asian immigrants that impact the well-being and mental health help-seeking. There is limited understanding about the help-seeking behaviours of second-generation and 1.5-generation Asian immigrants (those who immigrated as children), particularly in Australia. This study aims to explore how the identities of 1.5 and second-generation Asian Australians shape their help-seeking behaviours, using a social identity approach.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants who self-identified as Australian with Asian immigrant parents. Thematic analytic techniques established three themes: cultural attitudes towards mental health, language use and preferences in help-seeking.
Findings suggest help-seeking behaviours of children with immigrant parents may be unique to their generations as a product of their identities and experiences.
The implications for mental health initiatives, providers and services targeting culturally and linguistically diverse groups include accounting for perceived group memberships and barriers that may be unique to later-generation individuals.
Using a social identity approach, this study contributes to the understandings of the impact of second-generation and 1.5-generation immigrant identities on mental health help-seeking behaviours.
