“If There’s One Bad Apple, It Affects All of Us”: Filipino-Canadian Men’s Cultural Perspectives on Mental Health, Mental Illness and Stigma

Abstract

In Canada, there is a dearth of comprehensive literature on the specific needs for the health and well-being of racialized newcomers, especially for mental health in the rapidly growing Filipino-Canadian diaspora. Using two focus groups with 14 participants, this article identified the following themes: Filipino-Canadian men’s conceptualization of mental illness, health, and stigma; gender and intergenerational expectations as a form of mental health stigma; and motivations for joining the Strength In Unity (SIU) project. The insights from these Filipino men should inform approaches to addressing mental health in Filipino communities in Canada.