Review Paper: Mental Health Challenges in Immigrant and Refugee Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background:Half of the world's refugees comprise children and adolescents. Confronting conflicts and difficulties before, during, and after migration and seeking asylum affect their mental health. The present study aimed at investigating the challenges of mental health of migrant and refugee adolescents and children. Materials and Methods:A systematic review was conducted in the second half of 2016 using PubMed, Scopus, Magiran, SID, and Google Scholar databases. From the 2014 studies initially selected, 20 articles that specifically attended to examining the mental health of migrant and refugee adolescents and children were finally extracted. Results:According to previous studies, the refugee adolescents and children encounter much harm. In addition to psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-trauma stress disorder and psychosomatic pains, this group of refugees also suffers from a decline in flexibility and behavioral and cognitive functions. These conditions have been reported more often in refugee adolescents and children who have been separated from their parents or left far away from them. Conclusion:Before a crisis occurs, policymakers and planners should formulate and implement educational programs along with the participation of parents and teachers in order for children to cope with conditions of disasters, and in order to promote the culture of resilience. The health system, while developing special care programs must prioritize the training of its employees in order to provide services. Most studies have attended to the incidence of symptoms of refugees' psychological disorders, while it seems necessary to conduct intervention studies with the aim of identifying elements of risk and ways to resolve these elements.

International migration of unaccompanied minors: trends, health risks, and legal protection

“…1 As such, the health of unaccompanied minors should be considered in the wider frame of child and adolescent health and its effect on long-term and intergenerational health. 88 An umbrella review, consisting of eight systematic and narrative reviews, of the health literature on unaccompanied minors can be found in the table; [89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96] additional original research articles are included in the appendix pp 1-4 [A: please provide appendix page range. We require appendices to be in one document with page numbers.…”

Recent/Childhood Adversities and Mental Disorders Among US Immigrants

“…These differences may be partially explained by the plethora of stressors that are particularly relevant to immigrant youths. Prior to migration, immigrant, refugee, or asylee youths may encounter direct and indirect exposure to interpersonal, institutional, or targeted violence (89), as well as family separation (90). At the time of arrival to the host country, other factors affecting youths, tied to immigration policies, may include separation from parents and increased risk for abuse and exploitation (89).…”

“…Prior to migration, immigrant, refugee, or asylee youths may encounter direct and indirect exposure to interpersonal, institutional, or targeted violence (89), as well as family separation (90). At the time of arrival to the host country, other factors affecting youths, tied to immigration policies, may include separation from parents and increased risk for abuse and exploitation (89). Youths may also encounter a host of issues related not only to adapting/integrating to the host country, but also to the aftermath of exposure to earlier stressors, including internalized distress, particularly among refugee minors (90).…”

Perspectives on Integrated Behavioral Health in pediatric care with immigrant children and adolescents in a Federally Qualified Health Center in Texas

“…Since October 2018, 44,779 unaccompanied minors and 248,197 family units were apprehended at the US southwest border, mainly from Guatemala and Honduras (US Customs and Border Protection [USCBP], 2019). During times of conflict and forced displacements, children and adolescents are often exposed to psychological and physical trauma, abuse, and trafficking (Derluyn et al, 2009; Hebebrand et al, 2016; Keykaleh et al, 2017). In a recent systematic literature review, children and adolescent refugees were shown to have higher rates of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and psychosomatic issues.…”

“…In a recent systematic literature review, children and adolescent refugees were shown to have higher rates of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and psychosomatic issues. In addition, they are more likely to suffer from a decline in cognitive and behavioral functions (Keykaleh et al, 2017). Both documented and undocumented immigrant children and adolescents face challenges with access to health care and behavioral health, in particular (Derr, 2016; Hebebrand et al, 2016).…”