Acculturation, Cultural Marginalization & Culturally Responsive Mental Health Care for Immigrants: Reimagining Caring Presence Practice Amid Sociopolitical Challenges

Global migration has heightened due to various factors ranging from economic instability, political tension in many countries, escape from human rights abuse, search for better education and quality of life, as well as other involuntary reasons. Immigrants, irrespective of their immigration status, are often confronted by various challenges such as systemic inequities, identity conflict, community fragmentation, cultural and sociopolitical marginalization, including acculturation stress in their host countries that undermine their mental health. Current sociopolitical situations, particularly in the United States, further exacerbate these stressors. In light of this, mental health nurses must provide care that transcends borders, race, sexuality, or immigration status. Drawing on existing evidence, practice-based gaps, and emerging frameworks of culturally attuned care positions presence-centered care as a critical care approach in mental health care for vulnerable populations. There is transformative power in caring presence practice, particularly for immigrants who are confronted with various cultural and sociocultural stressors that exacerbate mental health issues among the population, inviting new discourse in this care dimension. Additionally, culturally attuned and presence-centered care are approaches that are culturally congruent to better prepare mental health nurses in the delivery of holistic care for improved mental health and overall well-being of the immigrant population.