Migration, ageing and mental health: an ethnographic study on perceptions of life satisfaction, anxiety and depression in older Somali men in east London

This ethnographic study was carried out in the aftermath of an epidemiologi cal investigation, the first of its kind, on the health and social status o f Somalis aged 60 years and over living in Tower Han-Jets, east London. The main aims of the study are to explore views on mental health and well-bein g and identify sources of stress and support so as to gain greater understa nding of background factors of life satisfaction and depression in 'first-g eneration' older Somali migrants in Tower Hamlets (males). Face-to-face int erviews were conducted among 28 males in Somali with the help of a bilingua l interpreter from the same age, sex and cultural background of participant s. Several factors were perceived to decrease life satisfaction and increas e vulnerability to depression in male Somalis, in particular low family sup port in the face of increasing physical disability, loneliness, inadequate access to community services and inability to return home. Social isolation , low level of control over one's life, helplessness and social degradation - ageism, perceived racial/religious discrimination and, to a lesser exten t, racial harassment were common themes identified in people who said to be depressed. Family support was the main buffer against depression; other co ping resources were represented by religious practices and reliance on Soma li peers. Avoidance coping seemed to encompass denial of depression in part icipants who had low mood. The study revealed multiple reasons for ill-bein g, in particular in people who had high expectations about medical and soci al care. Low levels of distress were found in Somalis who felt supported by their families. There is a need for social workers and other health profes sionals to advance discussions of mental-health issues in the community and for service providers to promote greater access to culturally relevant med ical and social services for Somali elders in Tower Hamlets and strengthen their informal support networks.