Mental health is one of the most pervasive health concerns in the refugee population due to the combined effects of traumatic experiences prior to migration and post-migration stressors related to resettlement. The objectives of this systematic search were to synthesize evidence on the effectiveness and identify gaps of mental health interventions on mental health outcomes for refugees resettled in the United States. This review search identified a combination of quasi-experimental (7 studies) and qualitative research studies (5 studies). Twelve papers, published between 2003-2017, evaluating twelve different interventions, were selected for review. Studies were conducted in a variety of refugee populations: Africans (8), Southeast Asians (2), Bhutanese (1), and multicultural (1). Interventions included groups/workshops (10) and individual counseling (2). The results from the mental health interventions showed increases in health confidence, health seeking behaviors, consistency with treatment course, English proficiency, quality of life, and level of enculturation. Results also showed decreases in depression and psychological distress. Also identified from this review were different methods for interventions including linguistic and ethnically-matched facilitators versus non-matched facilitators, as well as group interventions versus non-group interventions. These differences were identified in the review and discovered to be areas for further research as these items were not often addressed in the literature.
Using culturally appropriate, trauma-informed support to promote bicultural self-efficacy among resettled refugees: A conceptual model
Resettled refugees face pressure to integrate successfully into the culture of their resettlement country within a relatively short period of time. Though successful integration is important, research has shown that ethnic identity and participation in the ethnic culture of origin play a key role in supporting the mental health of resettled refugees. This paper presents…