Newly immigrants undergo important transformations in their social environment. This is the case of many employees that take care of the elderly and come from different countries.

 

These new Quebecers have had to leave their social network and their environment which had consequences on their mental health.

 

All of this in the context where mental health is still taboo in most immigrant communities.

 

In this article, I will focus on three immigrants concerning their story of immigration. First, I will talk about two young people first generation immigrants, one from Morocco and the second one who grew up in Benin. In addition, a second-generation immigrant who comes from Haiti, whose migration path is different from the two other participants.

 

I will talk about Quebec like a welcoming land, the reasons surrounding the migration process and losses to leaving one's country. After, I will talk about cultural differences between Quebec (individualistic society) and the countries of origin of the participants (societies based on communities). I will also discuss what facilitates and is an obstacle to integration, the identity and the psychological health of the participants.

 

Are you ready ?

 

Here we go.

 

 

Ah, Quebec !

 

The participants chose to establish themselves specifically in Quebec because the language of usage is French. '' French is my second language after Arabic, so it facilitates my integration''.

 

Two participants chose Quebec rather than France because there is less racism towards Arabs and Africains. Quebec represents for them the respect of human rights, freedom, openness of spirit and leaving in peace. They say that when they know you, the Quebecers are very welcoming, kind and like strangers.

 

 

For the second-generation immigrant, her mother's opinion was that Quebec would offer a better future for her children. The mother already had friends living in Canada.

 

 

Immigrate to Quebec, ok, but why ?

 

Two participants immigrated to Quebec to study and have a promising future.

 

For a participant, it's the shock of his mother's death that precipitated leaving his country for Canada. Other than this devastating event in his life, the participant criticizes the lack of human rights in Morocco compared to Canada. Even though he had a good job and a good salary in his country, he criticized the mentality of the people in Morocco:

 

'' We do not live like humans, it's the law of the jungle that prevails. I just want to live like a human being''.

 

 

What they lost in leaving their country of origin

 

By leaving their country of origin, the first-generation immigrants had to leave their family and friends. As a result, because they have a whole social life to rebuild, they are lonely.

 

A participant is also nostalgic of the warm attitude of people in Benin: '' Wherever you are, you are referred as my daughter, my child. '' She adds that the food is better than here and comforting: '' Where I come from, whatever time at night, you can eat, there are women on the roadside. They make good warm and spicy meals. ''

 

For the second-generation immigrant, there is the mourning of the extended family, but there is the luck to stay close to her immediate family, having immigrated in childhood in the context of family reunification.

 

 

 

 

Cultural differences

 

Two participants mentioned that one of the most important cultural differences between their country of origin and Quebec is the way they care for the elderly when they advance in age: '' If I would live in Morocco and that my dad would be old, I would never place him in a CHSLD. '' In Morocco, it's all the family that would care for the elderly or the sick person. When the elderly parents have more limitations, they go live with their children.

 

Another participant of Haitian origin agrees fully: '' The elderly have wisdom, there is a lot of respect. Therefore, we keep them with us because they have real-life experiences that we can ask for advice. However, in Quebec, when we reach a certain age, it's like you have a limitation period. ''

 

Other than the closeness that we have with the elderly, a participant finds that people are more connected in Morocco than in Quebec. In Morocco, neighbors are like friends or family members. Friendship comes easily: '' Even if you don't know somebody, you interact and laugh with that person. ''

 

On the other hand, the opinion of the second-generation immigrant from Haiti is different regarding relations with authority. In Haiti, the students always have to be formal with the teachers, whereas in Quebec, students are more familiar. When she arrived in Quebec, this participant was shocked to see a student contradict a teacher, because in Haiti the teacher is king and master.

 

 

Individualistic societies versus community ones

 

It doesn't matter where we come from, it appears that the human experience is universal. We all have the same fondamental needs: physical needs, security, social needs, self-esteem and personal accomplishment. And each society in the world developed different means to answer the needs of its citizens.

 

In community societies (such as Morocco, Benin and Haiti), the security net is provided by the family and the dear ones. The relations with uncles, aunts or cousins are so strong that they can be considered as fathers and mothers.

 

In individualistic societies (like Quebec), the security net comes from the government, state and institution structures.

 

Being more connected with the family is certainly an advantage when comes the time to answer the emotional needs of the person. Furthermore, when the elderly person becomes very ill and that it becomes a heavy load, the support of the institutions becomes also helpful.

 

 

What facilitates integration

 

The fact that they can express and understand French is without a doubt the most important factor in the integration of immigrants in Quebec. That is why, the three participants chose to live in Quebec because of the language. Employment and volunteering also facilitate integration. They enable socialization, self-assertion and give confidence.

 

 

What does not help integration

 

According to one participant, the reform of the Programme de l'expérience québécoise (PEQ), effective in 2020, does not help the integration of the immigrants.

 

To be noted that the PEQ is aimed to foreign students or temporarily foreign workers. It allows to get a certificate from Quebec in order to establish oneself permanently in Quebec.

 

Therefore, this controversial reform will delay obtaining a permanent residence. According to the Institut de la statistique du Québec, the delays to obtain a permanent residence in Quebec are a lot longer than in other Canadian provinces. The administrative delays can take up to 37 months in Quebec, being more than three years. In other provinces, the waiting period varies between 6 and 28 months. The PEQ reform has not been modified since.

 

 

 

Identity

 

With regards to identity, the immigrants of first generation see themselves first and foremost from Benin and from Morocco. Only the second-generation immigrant sees herself as a ''Quebecer''. In addition, because the latter worked in international development in West Africa, she admits that she had an easier time to adapt to different cultures.

 

 

Psychological health

With regards to mental health, there is a real difference between the immigrants of first generation and the immigration of second generation. The latter one has good mental health and good quality of life, whereas the first generation immigrants have more difficulties such as anxiety and depressive episodes. A participant expresses well this idea:

 

'' Most of the time it is difficult, I am exhausted (because she is caught between her studies and work). I do not have friends. I am only closed in my room. There are weeks where I do not want to do anything. I only want to sleep for a week. I have depressive episodes. This is where I found out what is depression. ''

 

 

 

There seems to have a connection between depression and isolation. The integration of this participant within the African community could help her create relationships in a safety way. On the other hand, this ''ethnic ghetto'' can limit the integration with members of the welcoming community.

 

As for the second-generation immigrant, she has a very good quality of life:

 

'' I developed a good professional network. We can socialize at work and also be friends outside of work. I make a good living, I live in a nice home, and I am well materialistically. ''

 

Other than being employed and having a home, having a good quality of life also refers to social relations, education, the environment, contribution to the community, having good health, security and occupational balance.

 

 

What can help the immigrants of first generation ?

 

• Support groups for foreign students, through community organizations, would be helpful to counteract isolation.

 

• Pairing of immigrants and Quebecers.

 

• Volunteer to integrate in the community.

 

• Do a leisure activity that promotes socialization (ex. dance, choir).

 

• Mixed marriage or having a Quebecer as a spouse.

 

• Using social networks sites such as Facebook groups (ex. going out groups, neighbor groups, etc.) or meetup.com.

 

• Apps to make friends (ex. We3).

 

• Activity groups (ex. rando Quebec, community kitchens, etc.).

 

• Community bank of sharing services (ex. Becs).

 

And according to you, what are other ways that first generation immigrants can expand their social network, and can better adhere to Quebec society ?