Belonging and mental health among black sub-Saharan African migrants in the UK

Purpose This paper argues that existing discussions about migrant mental health often focus on barriers to service access such as stigma, language, discrimination and cultural competence. The purpose of this paper is to examine how existing discussions of migrant mental health often focus on barriers to accessing services, including stigma, language, discrimination and cultural competence. However, the findings suggest that beneath many of these barriers lies a deeper issue: the disruption of belonging. It proposes that belonging is not merely a social outcome but a determinant of mental health and help-seeking behaviour. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study uses Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to interview 21 black sub-Saharan African migrants. The qualitative study was analysed using themes. Findings The findings showed that racism and unwelcoming communities made participants feel they did not belong; they struggled to integrate into communities and lacked supportive networks. Participants described moving from respected professional to low-status employment and experiencing a loss of self-worth. They also reported weakened family and community support systems due to immigration policies that move people around the country and deny family reunions for some. Research limitations/implications Future research should test belonging theory and evaluate culturally responsive interventions and assessment frameworks, including the Karanga fan, across diverse migrant communities. Practical implications The recommendations in this paper point towards trust-building initiatives, community cohesion, stronger community relationships and involvement of community and faith leaders. Social implications Promoting belonging through anti-racist, culturally responsive and community-centred approaches could reduce mental health inequalities, improve trust, encourage help-seeking and strengthen social inclusion. Originality/value Drawing on migrant narratives and the researcher’s lived experience as a former refugee from Zimbabwe, this paper develops belonging as an explanatory lens for mental health and help-seeking. It extends accounts of social connectedness and social capital by examining not only whether relationships or network resources exist, but whether people are recognised, valued and able to participate within institutions and wider society.