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Prof. Pedro Ruiz speaks on role of migration and
acculturation on mental health

COVENTRY (UK): Prof. Pedro Ruiz President of American Psychiatric Association (APA) delivered a guest lecture on “The role of migration and acculturation on mental health and mental illness” at the Midland Psychiatric Research Group annual meeting held recently. He started his presentation by stating that he himself was a migrant from Cuba to United States. He has shared his life with many migrants in Europe and USA. At present the total population of United States, he said, is 281.4 million. It includes 194.6 million who are Whites, 33.9 million are Black, 10.5 million are Asian while 35.3 million are Hispanics. Hispanics, Prof. Pedro Ruiz stated has a growth rate of 58% while Asians growth rate is 50%. The median age of Hispanics is 26.6 years.

Continuing Prof. Pedro said that 24.4% of Hispanic families, 13.2% of Asian families and 14.2% of White population is headed by females. The median family income of the Asians in 1999 was 51,205 dollars annually. There are lot of institutions including the computer industry in United States which are headed by Indians. If Hispanics and Asians come together, they can do a lot, he remarked. Poverty level is 9.6% in Asians in USA. Almost 42.2% of Asians in USA possess college or higher level of education.  Britain Germany and USA tops the list of countries as regards asylum seekers. Giving details about the resentment against migrants in different Western countries Prof. Pedro Ruiz said that 74% population of USA, 69% in UK, 61% in Turkey, 66% in France, 65% in Germany and 72% in USSR do not like the migrants. One also sees mixed emigration trends. While some people come to UK from overseas, many British citizens are leaving UK for USA, CANADA and Australia.

Talking about different phases of acculturation Prof. Pedro Ruiz said that when people go out, their families face lot of mental problems. They suffer more from mental anguish. The different phases are integration, rejection, assimilation and marginalization. Females, he said, are more flexible, hence they adjust better. Adjustment is much better if the other population is similar. Similarly in a pluralistic and tolerant society, the migrants tend to do better. Those with mental deprivation and conflicts are more prone to depression. Home sickness, separation problems, self identity process all have there effects.  However the overall status of networking system makes a bit difference. The degree of powerfulness and powerlessness also affects.  If the attitudes and prejudices is more in the population, it will put you in trouble. He also talked about the related behavioral problems like alcoholics, accidents, crime and suicide. The suicide rates are linked with race and sex.

At present population growth and poverty, Prof. Pedro Ruiz stated, are the major problems of United States. Almost 34.2% foreign born aliens are uninsured population. Similarly 43.6% of illegal aliens do not have insurance. 16.8% of full time and 24.1% part time workers have no insurance. 43.7% Hispanics have no insurance. Talking about the potential solution to the problem Prof. Pedro Ruiz suggested that these migrants should try to integrate, support each other and help abolish stigma and discrimination. They must strive for community empowerment and aim for full health service parity. His advice to the physicians and government agencies was that be honest to your patients, remain committed to confidentiality, quality of care, ensure access to care and fair distribution of resources. Privacy, Patient welfare, autonomy and social justice are all important, he added. Responding to questions Prof. Pedro Ruiz remarked that legislation will not make any difference as regards integration of the immigrants in the local population.  The solution is to follow the Jewish example, self empowerment and then gain power and affect the decision making at every level.