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Findings from Mental Health Screening of Newly Arrived Refugees in Colorado

Year: 2005

Type: article

Abstract: States are required to provide a public health screening for all newly arrived refugees in the United States. In 1997, a comprehensive program was created to include both a physical examination and a mental health screening. This article provides a complete description of the mental health screening process, including two illustrative cases, and reports information about the refugees who participated in the program. Ten percent of screened refugees were offered mental health referrals; of those, 37% followed up. Refugees who presented for treatment reported a higher number of symptoms upon screening compared with those who were offered referrals but did not follow up. Psychiatric evaluation confirmed that those who screened positive and presented for treatment were experiencing a high level of suffering and qualified for mental health diagnoses. The findings support inclusion of a mental health screening as part of the public health screening.

Source: Public Health Reports

DOI: 10.1177/003335490512000303

Authors: Daniel Savin, Deborah J. Seymour, Linh Nguyen Littleford, Juli Bettridge, Alexis Giese

Institutions: University of Colorado Health, University of Colorado Denver, Ball State University, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Language: English

Topic: Migration, Health and Trauma

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W202230058

FWCI: 0.751

Cites: 31

Cited by: 62

Related to: 10