Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Volume 17, Issue 3, 2012, Pages 146-152

Depressive symptomatology and service utilisation among refugee children and adolescents living in South Australia (Article)

Ziaian T.* , de Anstiss H. , Antoniou G. , Sawyer M. , Baghurst P.
  • a University of South Australia, City East Campus, Australia
  • b University of South Australia, City East Campus, Australia
  • c Public Health Research Unit, Women's and Children's Hospital, Children Youth and Women's Health Service, North Adelaide 5006, Australia
  • d Research and Evaluation Unit, Women's and Children's Hospital, Children, Youth and Women's Health Service, North Adelaide 5006, Australia
  • e Public Health Research Unit, Women's and Children's Hospital, Children Youth and Women's Health Service, North Adelaide 5006, Australia

Abstract

Background: Young refugees resettled in Western countries are at increased risk of mental health problems. However, most research has centred on post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with depression, other mental health disorders, and problems receiving comparatively less attention. Method: Depressive symptomatology was assessed using the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) in a multiethnic community sample of 348 refugee children (n=180) and adolescents (n=168) aged 7-17years living in South Australia. Results: According to parent reports, 7.1% of children and adolescents had depressive symptomatology for which services were available and yet only 21.5% of these accessed services. Conclusions: Young refugees need improved access to culturally appropriate mental health care. © 2011 The Authors. Child and Adolescent Mental Health © 2011 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

Author Keywords

Service utilisation Refugee children Depressive symptomatology

Index Keywords

male symptomatology female priority journal depression depression inventory refugee Australia Article health care access Children Depression Inventory health care utilization human school child Adolescent parent Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84863865980&doi=10.1111%2fj.1475-3588.2011.00620.x&partnerID=40&md5=abca52544e74c128f659cfe4dd777ecf
DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-3588.2011.00620.x
ISSN: 1475357X
Cited by: 21
Original Language: English