"It Is Definitely a Good Program for Everyone from Every Community": A Qualitative Study of Community Partner Perspectives on the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Mindfulness Program.
Ilse Blignault, Hend Saab, Hanan Youssef, Heba Baddah, Klara Giourgas, Lisa Woodland
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health August 18, 2023 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20166608 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 16 |
| Population | Community partners of a group mindfulness-based intervention for Arabic and Bangla speakers in Sydney, Australia |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Language Qualitative research Health resources Australia Evaluation Migrant Mental health Primary health care Health promotion Refugee Community engagement Asylum seeker Mindfulness-based intervention |
| Key findings | Community partners reported that the in-language, community-based mindfulness program overcame many barriers to timely mental health care for culturally and linguistically diverse communities and benefited participants, providers, partner organisations and the broader community. Partners contend that trust and safety are necessary for group mental health programs, and that relationships must be nurtured, diversity within communities recognised, and projects adequately resourced to avoid overburdening partner organisations. |
Abstract
Meeting the health needs of migrant and refugee communities is crucial to successful settlement and integration. These communities are often under-served by mental health services. Previous research has demonstrated the effectiveness of a group mindfulness-based intervention tailored for Arabic and Bangla speakers living in Sydney, Australia. This study aimed to explore community partner perspectives on the program's impact, contributing factors and sustainability, and to elicit suggestions for future development. Data were collected via semi-structured telephone interviews with a purposively selected sample of 16 informants. Thematic analysis was conducted using the Rigorous and Accelerated Data Reduction (RADaR) technique. Community partners welcomed the emphasis on promoting wellbeing and reported that the community-based in-language intervention, in both face-to-face and online formats, overcame many of the barriers to timely mental health care for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, with a beneficial impact on group participants, program providers, partner organisations and the broader community. Positive outcomes led to stronger community engagement and demand for more programs. For group mental health programs, both trust and safety are necessary. Relationships must be nurtured, diversity within CALD communities recognised, and projects adequately resourced to ensure partner organisations are not overburdened.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.