Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 18, Issue 4, 2016, Pages 828-835

Suicidal Ideation and Mental Health of Bhutanese Refugees in the United States (Article)

Ao T. , Shetty S. , Sivilli T. , Blanton C. , Ellis H. , Geltman P.L. , Cochran J. , Taylor E. , Lankau E.W. , Lopes Cardozo B.*
  • a Emergency Response and Recovery Branch, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-22, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States
  • b Emergency Response and Recovery Branch, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-22, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States
  • c Emergency Response and Recovery Branch, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-22, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States
  • d Emergency Response and Recovery Branch, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-22, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States
  • e Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
  • f Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
  • g Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
  • h Emergency Response and Recovery Branch, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-22, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States
  • i Emergency Response and Recovery Branch, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-22, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States, LandCow Consulting, Athens, GA, United States, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
  • j Emergency Response and Recovery Branch, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-22, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States

Abstract

Refugee agencies noticed a high number of suicides among Bhutanese refugees resettled in the United States between 2009 and 2012. We aimed to estimate prevalence of mental health conditions and identify factors associated with suicidal ideation among Bhutanese refugees. We conducted a stratified random cross-sectional survey and collected information on demographics, mental health conditions, suicidal ideation, and post-migration difficulties. Bivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify factors associated with suicidal ideation. Prevalence of mental health conditions were: depression (21 %), symptoms of anxiety (19 %), post-traumatic stress disorder (4.5 %), and suicidal ideation (3 %), significant risk factors for suicidal ideation included: not being a provider of the family; perceiving low social support; and having symptoms of anxiety and depression. These findings suggest that Bhutanese refugees in the United States may have a higher burden of mental illness relative to the US population and may benefit from mental health screening and treatment. Refugee communities and service providers may benefit from additional suicide awareness training to identify those at highest risk. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York (Outside USA).

Author Keywords

Suicide Bhutanese refugees Post-migration difficulties Mental health PTSD

Index Keywords

anxiety unemployment depression refugee mental health human epidemiology Refugees middle aged statistics and numerical data social support ethnology Bhutan Cross-Sectional Studies United States Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans psychology Adolescent male female Socioeconomic Factors risk factor Risk Factors socioeconomics adult suicidal ideation
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84951969162&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-015-0325-7&partnerID=40&md5=1706ade071947730200aefdcdd987888
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-015-0325-7
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 12
Original Language: English