Mental health research, ethics and multiculturalism.
In this paper we examine ethical issues relevant to conducting mental health research with refugees and immigrant communities that have cultural orientations and social organisation that are substantially different to those of the broader Australian community, and we relate these issues to NH&MRC Guidelines. We describe the development and conduct of a mental health research project carried out recently in Melbourne with the Somali community, focusing on ethical principles involved, and relating these to the NH&MRC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans, and the NH&MRC document Values and Ethics: Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research. The experience of conducting mental health research with the Somali community highlights the fact that the principles of inclusion and benefit enunciated in the NH&MRC document Values and Ethics are particularly pertinent when conducting research with refugees and immigrant communities that are culturally distant to those of the broader Australian community. These principles inform issues of research design and consent, as well as guiding respectful engagement with the participating community and communication of the research findings.
Bailes
Marion J
MJ
Centre for International Mental Health, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Australia.
Minas
I Harry
IH
Klimidis
Steven
S
D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D001315:Australia; D035841:Behavioral Research / Q000941:ethics*; D003142:Communication; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D017144:Focus Groups; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007802:Language; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012107:Research Design; D035842:Research Subjects / Q000523:psychology; D012945:Social Values; D012998:Somalia; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples