An international conference hosted by the University of Otago has highlighted links between migration, ethnicity and mental health problems, including the role of "isolation and culture shock".

Several leading New Zealand and overseas scholars participated in the three-day symposium.

It was organised by Prof Angela McCarthy, a specialist in Scottish and Irish migration at the university's department of history and art history.

Among the subjects discussed was the high rate of mental health problems experienced by 19th-century Irish immigrants to Australia, New Zealand, England and the United States.

"Among some of the universal factors are isolation and culture shock, the experience of being away from home, and the influence of the absence of family ties," Prof McCarthy said in an interview.

The symposium, which ended on Saturday, was a "great success", all the talks having generated extensive discussion, she said.

Organisers said the discussion of Irish mental health issues also shed new light on potential mental health problems facing today's immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers.

Prof McCarthy said 35 people had taken part in the event, which had provided "path-breaking and significant insight" into an under-researched aspect of mental health: that of migration and ethnicity.

(Source J Gibb, Otago Daily Times)