A Narrative Review of the Mental Health and Well-Being of Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) Migrants in Canada.

The mental health of immigrants from Southwest Asia and North Africa, including Arabic-speaking communities, is shaped by a combination of pre-migration trauma, post-migration adjustment challenges, and cultural understandings of psychological well-being. Although this population continues to grow in Canada, there remains a significant gap in research that meaningfully captures their experiences, particularly their mental health and well-being, within the Canadian context. This narrative review synthesizes sixteen Canadian-based studies published between 2017 and 2024 to explore the mental health outcomes, access to care, and coping strategies among SWANA migrants, with particular attention to Arabic-speaking communities represented in the literature. Using a social determinants of health lens and reflexive thematic analysis, this review identified four major themes: Contextual factors for poor mental health, Western vs. SWANA understandings of mental health, barriers to accessing mental health services, and strategies for coping. Findings reveal that mental health stigma within SWANA communities, unfamiliarity with the Canadian health system, and a shortage of culturally responsive providers are major barriers to care. Despite these challenges, participants consistently demonstrated resilience through faith, social networks, and a strong sense of cultural identity. These results highlight the need for mental health interventions that are not only culturally sensitive but also informed by the lived experiences of these populations. Research that is more inclusive is necessary to explore the varied identities within the SWANA region, particularly concerning second-generation migrants and SWANA Christians and other religious minorities.