As our world grows increasingly global, more professionals are stepping
across borders to pursue exciting career opportunities. Companies often provide
significant support during this transition, facilitating everything from visa
applications to relocation logistics to legal status, and yet the mental health
implications of immigration can be overlooked.
Immigration for professional opportunities can be a significant step in an
employee’s career journey. The prospect of expanding one’s horizons, diving into new
cultural experiences, and seizing career growth opportunities can be incredibly
refreshing and enriching. Still, it’s equally important to acknowledge and address
the psychological implications of such a transition.
Read on to discover how immigration can affect mental health, and how employers can
further assist their employees during this challenging transition.
Why immigrate for work: the
benefits
Before addressing the potential risks to immigrants’ mental health, let’s explore
some of the many reasons why—against all challenges—professionals accept and seek
out the opportunity to move abroad for a role.
Career growth
Moving to a new country often presents unique professional opportunities unavailable
in one’s home country, leading to accelerated career growth and development.
Skill enhancement
Working in a new environment with different norms and practices can help individuals
broaden their skill set, including technical skills related to their work and soft
skills, such as communication, adaptability, and problem-solving.
Cultural exchange
Living in a different culture can be a fantastic learning opportunity that leads to
a deeper understanding of the world, personal growth, and an enhanced worldview.
New relationships
Immigration provides the opportunity to build relationships with people from diverse
backgrounds, leading to lasting friendships and a more extensive support network.
Financial stability
Professional immigrants often move to take advantage of higher salaries or more
robust economies, leading to increased financial stability.
Foreign language skills
Living in a new country provides an excellent opportunity to learn a new language,
an invaluable skill in today’s globalized world.
Quality of life
Depending on the home and host countries, moving can lead to improved quality of
life, due to better access to amenities, healthcare, education, and other social
services.
Immigrating for work: mental health
challenges
While there are countless reasons to consider emigrating for a role, immigrant
professionals commonly face unique mental health challenges related to isolation,
identity crisis, and acculturation stress. The more risk factors an immigrant
experiences, the higher the likelihood of facing mental health difficulties. It can
also bring about significant mental health symptoms of stress and anxiety. Let’s
explore some of the potential challenges.
Adapting to a new culture
Between adjusting to new norms, customs, and societal expectations, assimilation
into a new culture can sometimes be overwhelming. That unfamiliarity can lead to a
phenomenon known as culture shock, which can induce disorientation and unease,
affecting an individual’s mental well-being.
Learning a new language
Linguistic barriers can make it difficult for immigrants to communicate effectively,
leading to frustration, isolation, and anxiety. In a professional context, these
language difficulties can also affect job performance and career progression,
increasing stress levels.
Building new social networks
Humans are social creatures who thrive on interpersonal connections, and moving to a
new country often means leaving behind established social networks and starting
afresh. Developing new relationships in a new cultural context can be exhausting and
isolating, potentially impacting mental health.
Navigating the complexities of a foreign work
environment
Every country has its unique work culture and professional etiquette. For
immigrants, understanding and adapting to these nuances can be challenging. These
difficulties may lead to feelings of inadequacy or alienation in the workplace,
contributing to stress, anxiety, and even burnout.
Cultural identity negotiation
Immigrants often have to navigate differences between their home culture and the
host country’s culture, which can sometimes lead to cultural confusion and even
identity crises.
Discrimination and stereotyping
Regardless of their professional status, immigrants may face prejudice,
discrimination, or bias, which can have severe implications for mental health.
Work-life balance
Professionals moving to a new country may encounter different expectations around
work-life balance. This change can be stressful and lead to overwork or burnout.
Weather and climate changes
Climate and weather significantly influence our mood and well-being. Moving to a
country with a vastly different climate can contribute to feelings of discomfort or
alienation.
Legal and administrative
challenges
The paperwork and bureaucratic processes associated with immigration can be daunting
and create additional stress.
These challenges underscore the importance of mental health support for immigrants,
particularly those moving for work. If not properly managed, these drastic changes
can increase anxiety, depression symptoms, and other mental health issues. As
significant stakeholders in this process, employers and community organizations are
crucial in providing support and health-care services.
Five common mental health
challenges
Moving for a job can lead to mental health problems if not properly addressed
throughout the process. Let’s explore some scenarios in which professionals in
different fields might deal with immigration mental health issues.
1. A Silicon Valley transfer
Amit, a software engineer from Bangalore, India, has worked for a multinational tech
company with a Silicon Valley, California, branch. His exceptional work has led to
an inter-company transfer on an L1 visa. John is excited about this new opportunity
but also feels anxiety about adapting to a new culture, language nuances, and the
time difference affecting his communications with his family back in India.
2. Recruitment to a UK hospital
Maria, a nurse from the Philippines, was recruited to work in a hospital in the UK
due to the nursing shortage there. She’s issued a Tier 2 visa to relocate to London.
She’s worried about facing potential discrimination, dealing with a new healthcare
system, and the mental health toll of being on the frontlines during the pandemic,
far from her support system back home.
3. An opportunity to educate
abroad
Dr. Ahmed, a prominent Egyptian archaeologist, accepts a position at a university in
Germany. Granted a Blue Card EU for Germany, he has the exciting opportunity to lead
a newly funded research project. However, he’s concerned about fitting in with the
local community and his new colleagues, dealing with the paperwork in German, and
the psychological effect of being in a new country with different academic norms.
4. A female executive in a new
world
Anna, a petroleum engineer from Calgary, Canada, gets promoted to manager in her
company’s office in Saudi Arabia. The company secures a work visa for her. Still, as
she prepares for the move, she feels anxious about the different social norms,
adapting to a drastically different climate, and being a woman in a leadership role
in a predominantly male industry.
5. A consultancy role
Hiroshi, a Japanese business consultant, is sent by his company to its New York
office to lead a two-year project. While he’s proficient in English and has visited
the city before, the prospect of living there, dealing with work pressure in a
highly competitive environment, and managing a team in a different cultural context
can pose mental health challenges.
In all these cases, professionals are changing jobs and adapting to a life in a new
country, and their employers’ support can significantly improve their mental health
status and overall experience. Those social supports may include pre-departure and
post-arrival orientation programs, language courses, mental health support, medical
services, and initiatives to promote social inclusion.
Language skills and immigrants’ mental
health
Language proficiency plays a crucial role in an immigrant’s adaptation to a host
country. Limited language skills can lead to feelings of social isolation, hinder
professional growth, and contribute to anxiety or depression; therefore language
support is critical to any comprehensive employee immigration support program for
lowering mental health risks.
According to research
published in the International Journal of Intercultural
Relations, proficiency in the host country’s language can influence
mental health, with better mental health outcomes among immigrants. Language
proficiency also reduces stress and improves social integration, ultimately leading
to a better mindset.
Six ways for employers to support immigrant
employees
While it’s essential to recognize the mental health challenges that immigrant
employees may face, exploring ways employers can support their transitioning
workforce is equally critical.
Research from Human Resource Management Journal indicates that
employer support, including cultural-sensitivity training, community mental health
resources, and language courses, can significantly reduce the risk of mental health
conditions among immigrant professionals.
Here are five ways to support employees that are at risk for mental health concerns
when moving countries for a new job.
1. Promote cultural inclusivity
Foster a welcoming environment that celebrates diversity and encourages inclusivity.
Cultivating a sense of community is enormously beneficial when combating mental
health conditions and building good mental health—it can help ground immigrant
children’s ethnic identity and cultural background with their adopted home.
Significant differences exist in the level of emotional distress and psychological
distress among families who integrate into their local community and those who tend
to isolate. Social determinants might be the walkability of neighborhoods, safe
meeting places such as parks or shopping zones, and a faith-based practice.
2. Offer mental health services
Offer access to counseling or mental-health services in-house or through
partnerships with local mental health organizations. Immigration can provoke issues
in other areas of life, such as family conflict, tension between family members, and
substance use disorders among immigrant youth.
3. Encourage language proficiency
As noted above, language is one of the fundamental pillars of effective
communication and social integration. Employers can provide language classes or
learning resources to help immigrant employees build confidence and competence in
the local language. This support can range from in-house language tutors to
subsidizing language learning apps or courses.
Beyond this, it’s crucial to create an environment where employees can practice
their new language skills without fear of judgment. Language proficiency helps
employees navigate their personal life in a new country and enhances their
professional performance.
4. Keep communication channels
open
Regular and open communication is required to understand each immigrant employee’s
unique challenges. Employers can maintain dialogue through weekly check-ins or
regular meetings dedicated to discussing any issues or challenges that have arisen.
They should also promote a culture in which immigrant employees feel comfortable
voicing their concerns or struggles. Anonymous feedback channels might be beneficial
for more sensitive issues.
5. Provide comprehensive training
programs
Employers can offer cross-cultural training programs to existing staff, equipping
them with the understanding and empathy needed to support their new colleagues.
These programs could address cultural sensitivity, unconscious bias, and inclusive
communication. By fostering a supportive work environment, companies can enhance
team cohesion and mitigate the feeling of “otherness” immigrant employees might
experience.
6. Promote physical fitness
Physical and mental health go hand in hand, with regular physical activity known to
reduce the risk factor of various mental health issues, including depression and
anxiety. Employers can encourage this vital aspect of well-being by providing a
fitness stipend or sponsoring gym memberships. On-site fitness facilities or
organized sporting events also offer opportunities for social interaction, helping
immigrant employees build new social networks.
Be specific for positive mental health
outcomes
By acknowledging the unique mental-health challenges of immigration and adopting
supportive measures, employers can ensure the well-being of their immigrant
employees and foster a more productive, engaged, and resilient workforce. In
implementing these measures, employers must consider their immigrant employees’
specific needs and preferences, as one-size-fits-all solutions are rarely effective
in such complex and personal matters.
Remember, as an employer you’re not alone in this migration process. Services like
Newland Chase assist companies in managing the complexities of global mobility and
immigration, helping your employees and, in turn, your business thrive in the global
market.
Navigate immigrant mental health care with Newland
Chase
Employers are crucial in ensuring immigrant employees’ successful integration and
well-being in a globally connected world. By understanding the potential
mental-health implications of immigration and providing targeted support, companies
can foster an environment conducive to the mental health and overall success of
immigrant women and children of immigrants in their workforce.
Navigating the complexities of immigration and providing the necessary support to
employees can be challenging, however, which is where expert services like Newland Chase come into play. With its
comprehensive range of corporate immigration services and a team of experienced
immigration professionals, Newland Chase helps companies ensure a smooth transition
for all immigrant employees.
With Newland Chase, leaders are not outsourcing immigration processes; they’re
gaining an invaluable partner who understands the intricate balance between
successful global mobility and employee well-being. Let Newland Chase guide you and
your employees through the immigration journey, allowing you to focus on what
matters most: building a productive and thriving global team.
Take the first step in creating a supportive environment for your immigrant
employees and enriching your global workforce. Contact Newland
Chase Corporate Immigration Services today to find out how we can support
your business in managing the complexities of global mobility and immigration.