Starting the Conversation
What to consider
Depending on your role, and the organisation or service you are part of, there may be a number of opportunities to engage in discussions with men from migrant and refugee backgrounds about their mental health, and current or future roles as new fathers and partners.
In some circumstances, it may be more appropriate to have an informal conversation, whereas in other settings a more structured approach would be suitable.
What to consider
Language
- Does the person speak English?
- If not, do you speak the same language as the person, and are you confident enough in your own language skills to be able to discuss sensitive topics?
- Alternatively, consider engaging an interpreter. If you are part of a generalist organisation or service, you may already be working with interpreters to support your communication with people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
- If you require interpreting assistance to communicate with the person, make sure you know how to access interpreters and how to work with them.
- Note that some individuals will hesitate to communicate via an interpreter, particularly in small, tight-knit communities, where the interpreter and the individual may be known to each other. In such circumstances, it is preferable to work with a telephone interpreter.
- Consider your listening skills and using strength-based rather than deficit-based language.
Time
- Do you regularly engage with the same man from a migrant or refugee background who is experiencing mental health issues and/or is a new or expectant father?
- Or, is it a one-off interaction that is unlikely to be repeated?
- How much time do you and the man have available?
- Consider what is more suitable – to engage in a brief discussion and refer the individual to the individual portal (one-off engagement) or to engage in a more structured conversation, refer the individual to the portal, and have a follow up (recurring engagement).
Self-reflection/reflexivity
- Consider your own viewpoints, biases and values.
- Consider how your background and environment have influenced your attitudes to mental health issues, fatherhood and respectful relationships.
- Consider your professional training and capacity to discuss family violence and other issues. Be aware of the risk of collusion and other intervention-related risks that specialised services are better placed to .