Effects of a Program to Improve Mental Health Literacy for Married Immigrant Women in Korea

Yun-Jung Choi1

  • 1Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heusuk-ro, Bldg. 102, 7th Floor Room 718, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756, South Korea.

This study aimed to develop and evaluate a mental health improvement program for the acculturative stress and mental health literacy of married immigrant women using bilingual gatekeepers. Bilingual gatekeepers were recruited from multicultural centers and trained to provide 8-week structured mental health improvement services to the women in the experimental group using a mental health improvement guidebook developed by the authors in 8 different languages. The program was effective in improving mental health and mental health literacy scores as well as reducing the degree of acculturative stress. This study offers a model of effective mental healthcare for multicultural communities.

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