Cultural Consultation for Migrant Mental Health: Improving Accessibility Through Advanced Digital Technologies

The project aims to further develop a cultural consultation approach that places the patient’s cultural context at the centre of mental health assessment and treatment. It extends the Cultural-Clinical Case Formulation model by adding two innovations:

1. an app-based ecological momentary interventions that capture symptoms, social engagement, language, and setting in real time;
2. a video-based delivery that broadens access to cultural consultation across Québec.

By integrating these tools, the project seeks to understand how digital technologies can support migrant patients and the clinicians who work with them. It also examines whether symptom improvement occurs during the two-week period of cultural consultation supported by the app, and how day-to-day cultural identity and social engagement relate to mental health. Overall, the goal is to build capacity for culturally safe and responsive mental health services in increasingly diverse communities.

What impacts might app-based ecological momentary interventions have on migrant patients and their clinicians in cultural consultation?

The project uses a mixed-methods design. Participants take part in culturally informed interviews that explore their experiences of illness, identity and care. They also provide brief daily reports that capture real-time shifts in mood and context. Quantitative analyses examine changes in symptoms, while qualitative analyses focus on cultural insights and participants’ experiences with the digital tools.

This project is ongoing, currently in the intial phase of development.

Expected completion: 2027

Cultural consultation; migrant mental health; digital tools; ecological momentary interventions; cultural identity