ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Refugee groups fleeing war and violence and resettling in the West are one of the population groups that are poorly understood. Understanding their mental health challenges and providing effective and evidence-based interventions continue to be formidable challenges. AIM: This study presents a refugee mental health framework [RMHF] that was developed to address the gaps in understanding and responding to the needs of refugee populations by prioritizing their voices, and incorporating lessons learned from working with these refugee communities into the development of the framework. METHOD: A RMHF was developed, presented and refined with input from refugee communities, multiple stakeholders and an expert panel. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: This paper presents the process and finalized framework, and discusses its utility as a mapping, planning and intervention tool in supporting refugee communities with their resettlement and promoting mental wellbeing.
Subject(s)
Refugees , Humans , Refugees/psychology , Mental Health , ViolenceABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To explore the salience of pre- and postmigration stresses as risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to identify resilience factors and explore their mental health salience. METHODS: We conducted a mental health survey of 1603 Sri Lankan Tamils in Toronto, incorporating the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview for PTSD. RESULTS: According to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, criteria, lifetime prevalence for PTSD was 12%; according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, criteria it was 5.8%. Female sex and the number of stresses of passage increased the probability of PTSD, whereas satisfaction with life and the availability of nonfamily social relations reduced it. CONCLUSIONS: Consideration of pre- and postmigration stresses of passage and of the nature of resilience contributes to an improved understanding of PTSD among refugees.