Older Immigrants’ Mental Health: A Narrative Review

This narrative review explores the mental health of older immigrants in Canada through an intersectional lens which was informed by Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework for conducting a scoping review. Research shows that because of the immigration process, older immigrants experience mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder. As Canada’s older immigrant population grows, it is critical that the mental health of older immigrants is investigated. This narrative review addresses the following research question: what is known from the existing literature about the mental health of older immigrants in Canada? The following 4 themes emerged from the 15 articles included in this narrative review: social isolation and loneliness, family and social support, the social determinants of mental health and barriers to accessing mental health services. This narrative review’s results include policy recommendations aimed at improving the mental health of older immigrants and areas for future research.