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Addressing the Invisible Affliction: An Assessment of Behavioral Health Services for Newly Resettled Refugees in the United States

Journal of International Migration and Integration volume 20, pages 247–259 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

The behavioral health needs of refugees in the USA remain insufficiently studied due to a lack of data on their assessment, referral, and treatment during the resettlement process. This study examines the current behavioral health service provisions for this population through individual interviews of refugee resettlement agency staff in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and a nationwide survey of state refugee health coordinators. The results reveal shortfalls in behavioral health screening, clinical resources, and other federally mandated services along with linguistic and cultural obstacles facing refugees with potential behavioral health needs. This study offers actionable policy and procedural recommendations on the federal, state, and local levels to address these shortfalls. This includes increasing funding for healthcare entitlement programs and refugee resettlement agencies, improving screening procedures and treatment protocols, expanding federal and state oversight of mandated behavioral health services, and establishing community-partnered programs to reduce cultural and stigma-related barriers to behavior health care.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2120 L Street, NW Suite 600, Washington DC, 20037, USA

    Amir A. Afkhami

  2. Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, 950 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington DC, 20052, USA

    Amir A. Afkhami & Katy Gorentz

Authors
  1. Amir A. Afkhami
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  2. Katy Gorentz
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Correspondence to Amir A. Afkhami.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. GWU IRB#: 101610, determined research not involving human subjects.

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Informed consent was obtained on all questionnaires.

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Afkhami, A.A., Gorentz, K. Addressing the Invisible Affliction: An Assessment of Behavioral Health Services for Newly Resettled Refugees in the United States. Int. Migration & Integration 20, 247–259 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-018-0603-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-018-0603-z

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