A Community-Based Needs Assessment of Resettled Syrian Refugee Children and Families in Canada

Redab Al-Janaideh; Maarya Abdulkarim; Ruth Speidel; Joanne Filippelli; Tyler Colasante; Tina Malti

doi:10.25071/1920-7336.41034

Authors

Redab Al-Janaideh Centre for Leadership and Learning-YRDSB, Canada https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9021-7371
Maarya Abdulkarim Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1938-066X
Ruth Speidel Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6775-6748
Joanne Filippelli Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Tyler Colasante University of Leipzig, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6513-2336
Tina Malti Faculty of Education, University of Leipzig, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25071/1920-7336.41034

Keywords:

refugee children and families, refugee service providers, needs assessment, community research

Abstract

A needs assessment was conducted to identify the needs, challenges, and strengths of Syrian refugee children and families resettled in Canada and of services for these refugees. Ten refugee caregivers and 17 service providers were interviewed. Thematic analyses indicated significant needs and challenges experienced by refugees (e.g., persistent mental health issues, lack of in-person support), as well as challenges related to refugee services (e.g., discontinuity of mental health services). Several refugee strengths (e.g., optimism for the future and strong familial ties) and refugee service strengths (e.g., service collaboration) were identified, highlighting refugees’ adaptive capacities and points of service leverage to ensure refugees’ well-being and positive resettlement.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biographies

Redab Al-Janaideh, Centre for Leadership and Learning-YRDSB, Canada

Redab Al-Janaideh is a Project Manager at the Centre for Leadership and Learning-YRDSB, Canada. She can be reached at redab.al-janaideh@yrdsb.ca.

Maarya Abdulkarim, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Maarya Abdulkarim is a Master of Public Health student at the University of Toronto. She can be reached at maarya.abdulkarim@mail.utoronto.ca.

Ruth Speidel, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Ruth Speidel is an Assistant Professor at The University of Toronto Mississauga. She can be reached at ruth.speidel@utoronto.ca.

Joanne Filippelli, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Joanne Filippelli is a former Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto Mississauga. She can be reached at joanne.filippelli@utoronto.ca.

Tyler Colasante, University of Leipzig, Germany

Tyler Colasante is an assistant professor at Leipzig University. He can be reached at tyler.colasante@uni-leipzig.de.

Tina Malti, Faculty of Education, University of Leipzig, Germany

Tina Malti is a professor at the University of Leipzig. She can be reached at tina.malti@uni-leipzig.de.

References

Agrawal, S. K. (2019). Canadian refugee sponsorship programs: Experience of Syrian refugees in Alberta, Canada. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 20(4), 941–962. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-018-0640-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-018-0640-7

Ahmed, A., Brown, A., & Feng, C. X. (2017). Maternal depression in Syrian refugee women recently moved to Canada: A preliminary study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 17(1), Article 240. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1433-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1433-2

Akinsulure‐Smith, A. M., Espinosa, A., Chu, T., & Hallock, R. (2018). Secondary traumatic stress and burnout among refugee resettlement workers: The role of coping and emotional intelligence. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 31(2), 202–212. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22279 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22279

Alemi, Q., Stempel, C., Siddiq, H., & Kim, E. (2020). Refugees and COVID-19: Achieving a comprehensive public health response. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 98(8), 510–510A. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.20.271080 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.20.271080

Appleton, R., Williams, J., Vera San Juan, N., Needle, J. J., Schlief, M., Jordan, H., Sheridan Rains, L., Goulding, L., Badhan, M., Roxburgh, E., Barnett, P., Spyridonidis, S., Tomaskova, M., Mo, J., Harju-Seppänen, J., Haime, Z., Casetta, C., Papamichail, A., Lloyd-Evans, B., Simpson, A., … Johnson, S. (2021). Implementation, adoption, and perceptions of telemental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(12), Article e31746. https://doi.org/10.2196/31746 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/31746

Arnetz, J., Rofa, Y., Arnetz, B., Ventimiglia, M., & Jamil, H. (2013). Resilience as a protective factor against the development of psychopathology among refugees. The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 201(3), 167–172. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e3182848afe DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e3182848afe

Atkinson, M. (2018). Refugee mentoring: Sharing the journey. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 24(3), 338–342. https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000316 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000316

Benjamen, J., Girard, V., Jamani, S., Magwood, O., Holland, T., Sharfuddin, N., & Pottie, K. (2021). Access to refugee and migrant mental health care services during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic: A Canadian refugee clinician survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(10), Article 5266. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105266 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105266

Bernardi, L., Gotlib, I. H., & Zihnioğlu, Ö. (2021). Effects of COVID-19-related life changes on mental health in Syrian refugees in Turkey. BJPsych Open, 7(6), Article e182. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.1009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.1009

Berry, J. W. (2011). Integration and multiculturalism: Ways towards social solidarity. Papers on Social Representations, 20(1), 2.1–2.21. https://psr.iscte-iul.pt/index.php/PSR/article/view/414

Blackmore, R., Gray, K. M., Boyle, J. A., Fazel, M., Ranasinha, S., Fitzgerald, G., Misso, M., & Gibson-Helm, M. (2020). Systematic review and meta-analysis: The prevalence of mental illness in child and adolescent refugees and asylum seekers. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(6), 705–714. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2019.11.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2019.11.011

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006) Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa DOI: https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Braun, J., & Clément, D. (2019, August). Immigrant and refugee settlement in Canada: Trends in federal funding. University of Alberta. https://dalspace.library.dal.ca/bitstream/handle/10222/76394/2019%20Report%20CYRCC%20AAISA%20fed%20funding%20and%20landing%20rates.pdf?sequence=5

Brickhill-Atkinson, M., & Hauck, F. R. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on resettled refugees. Primary Care, 48(1), 57–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2020.10.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2020.10.001

Boswall, K., & Akash, R. A. (2015). Personal perspectives of protracted displacement: An ethnographic insight into the isolation and coping mechanisms of Syrian women and girls living as urban refugees in northern Jordan. Intervention, 13(3), 203–215. https://www.interventionjournal.org/temp/Intervention133203-5705303_155053.pdf DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/WTF.0000000000000097

Browne, D. T., Smith, J. A., & Basabose, J. D. D. (2021). Refugee children and families during the COVID-19 crisis: A resilience framework for mental health. Journal of Refugee Studies, 34(1), 1138–1149. https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/feaa113 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/feaa113

Bukuluki, P., Mwenyango, H., Kato, F., Kyamulabi, A., & Bagabo, A. (2021). The psychosocial effect of COVID-19 on urban refugees: Narratives from Congolese refugees living in Kampala. In A. A. Moustafa (Ed.), Mental health effects of COVID-19 (pp. 69–87). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-824289-6.00006-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-824289-6.00006-4

Chaze, F., Thomson, M. S., George, U., & Guruge, S. (2015). Role of cultural beliefs, religion, and spirituality in mental health and/or service utilization among immigrants in Canada: A scoping review. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 34(3), 87–101. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2015-015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2015-015

Ciftci, A., Jones, N., & Corrigan, P. W. (2013). Mental health stigma in the Muslim community. Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 7(1), 17–32. https://doi.org/10.3998/jmmh.10381607.0007.102 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3998/jmmh.10381607.0007.102

Collins, S. E., Clifasefi, S. L., Stanton, J., The LEAP Advisory Board, Straits, K. J. E., Gil-Kashiwabara, E., Rodriguez Espinosa, P., Nicasio, A. V., Andrasik, M. P., Hawes, S. M., Miller, K. A., Nelson, L. A., Orfaly, V. E., Duran, B. M., & Wallerstein, N. (2018). Community-based participatory research (CBPR): Towards equitable involvement of community in psychology research. American Psychologist, 73(7), 884–898. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000167 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000167

Colom, F. (2011). Keeping therapies simple: Psychoeducation in the prevention of relapse in affective disorders. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 198(5), 338–340. https://doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.110.090209 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.110.090209

Connor, P. (2018, January 29). Most displaced Syrians are in the Middle East, and about a million are in Europe. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/01/29/where-displaced-syrians-have-resettled/

Dangmann, C., Solberg, Ø., Steffenak, A. K. M., Høye, S., & Andersen, P. N. (2021). Syrian refugee youth resettled in Norway: Mechanisms of resilience influencing health-related quality of life and mental distress. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, Article 711451. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.711451 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.711451

Drahota, A., Meza, R. D., Brikho, B., Naaf, M., Estabillo, J. A., Gomez, E. D., Vejnoska, S. F., Dufek, S., Stahmer, A. C., & Aarons, G. A. (2016). Community–academic partnerships: A systematic review of the state of the literature and recommendations for future research. The Milbank Quarterly, 94(1), 163–214. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0009.12184 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0009.12184

Durbin, A., Lin, E., Moineddin, R., Steele, L. S., & Glazier, R. H. (2014). Use of mental health care for nonpsychotic conditions by immigrants in different admission classes and by refugees in Ontario, Canada. Open Medicine, 8(4), e136–e146. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4242791/

Edge, S., & Newbold, B. (2013). Discrimination and the health of immigrants and refugees: Exploring Canada’s evidence base and directions for future research in newcomer receiving countries. Journal Of Immigrant and Minority Health, 15(1), 141–148. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9640-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9640-4

Elsayed, D., Song, J. H., Myatt, E., Colasante, T., & Malti, T. (2019). Anger and sadness regulation in refugee children: The roles of pre- and post-migratory factors. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 50(5), 846–855. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-019-00887-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-019-00887-4

Fazel, M., & Stein, A. (2002). The mental health of refugee children. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 87, 366–370. https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.87.5.366 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.87.5.366

Giacco, D., Matanov, A., & Priebe, S. (2014). Providing mental healthcare to immigrants: Current challenges and new strategies. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 27, 282–288. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCO.0000000000000065 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/YCO.0000000000000065

Gopalkrishnan, N. (2018). Cultural diversity and mental health: Considerations for policy and practice. Frontiers in Public Health, 6, Article 179. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00179 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00179

Government of Canada. (2021). Permanent residents—Monthly IRCC updates. Canada—Admissions of permanent residents by country of citizenship, January 2015–November 2021. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/f7e5498e-0ad8-4417-85c9-9b8aff9b9eda

Gray, D. J. P., Sidaway-Lee, K., White, E., Thorne, A., & Evans, P. H. (2018). Continuity of care with doctors—A matter of life and death? A systematic review of continuity of care and mortality. BMJ Open, 8(6), Article e021161. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021161 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021161

Hadfield, K., Ostrowski, A., & Ungar, M. (2017). What can we expect of the mental health and wellbeing of Syrian refugee children and adolescents in Canada? Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne, 58(2), 194–201. https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000102 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000102

Hameed, S., Sadiq, A., & Din, A. U. (2018). The increased vulnerability of refugee population to mental health disorders. Kansas Journal of Medicine, 11(1), 1–12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5834240/ DOI: https://doi.org/10.17161/kjm.v11i1.8680

Hasan, N., Mitschke, D. B., & Ravi, K. E. (2018). Exploring the role of faith in resettlement among Muslim Syrian refugees. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work, 37(3), 223–238. https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2018.1461045 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2018.1461045

Hassan, G., Ventevogel, P., Jefee-Bahloul, H., Barkil-Oteo, A., & Kirmayer, L. J. (2016). Mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of Syrians affected by armed conflict. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 25(2), 129–141. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796016000044 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796016000044

Hodes, M., & Vostanis, P. (2019). Practitioner review: Mental health problems of refugee children and adolescents and their management. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 60(7), 716–731. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13002

Hynes, T. (2003, November 30). The issue of “trust” or “mistrust” in research with refugees: Choices, caveats and considerations for researchers (Working paper no. 98). UNHCR. https://www.refworld.org/docid/4ff2ad742.html

Im, H., & George, N. (2022). Impacts of COVID-19 on refugee service provision and community support: A rapid assessment during the pandemic. Social Work in Public Health, 37(1), 84–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2021.1974639 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2021.1974639

Im, H., Rodriguez, C., & Grumbine, J. M. (2021). A multitier model of refugee mental health and psychosocial support in resettlement: Toward trauma-informed and culture-informed systems of care. Psychological Services, 18(3), 345–364. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000412 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000412

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada. (2019, June). Operation Syrian refugees: An overview of Canada’s resettlement initiatives and early outcomes. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/reports-statistics/evaluations/syrian-outcomes-report-2019.html

Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. (2019). New displacements by conflict and disasters between 2010 and 2019. In A decade of displacement in the Middle East and North Africa (pp. 2–3). https://www.internal-displacement.org/sites/default/files/publications/documents/IDMC_MenaReport_final.pdf

Javanbakht, A., Amirsadri, A., Abu Suhaiban, H., Alsaud, M. I., Alobaidi, Z., Rawi, Z., & Arfken, C. L. (2019). Prevalence of possible mental disorders in Syrian refugees resettling in the United States screened at primary care. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 21(3), 664–667. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0797-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0797-3

Kazour, F., Zahreddine, N. R., Maragel, M. G., Almustafa, M. A., Soufia, M., Haddad, R., & Richa, S. (2017). Post-traumatic stress disorder in a sample of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 72, 41–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.09.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.09.007

Khamis, V. (2019). Posttraumatic stress disorder and emotion dysregulation among Syrian refugee children and adolescents resettled in Lebanon and Jordan. Child Abuse & Neglect, 89, 29–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.12.013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.12.013

Khawaja, N. G., White, K. M., Schweitzer, R., & Greenslade, J. (2008). Difficulties and coping strategies of Sudanese refugees: A qualitative approach. Transcultural Psychiatry, 45(3), 489–512. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363461508094678 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1363461508094678

Kirmayer, L. J., Narasiah, L., Munoz, M., Rashid, M., Ryder, A. G., Guzder, J., Hassan, G., Rousseau, C., & Pottie, K. (2011). Common mental health problems in immigrants and refugees: General approach in primary care. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal, 183(12), E959–E967. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.090292 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.090292

Leipold, B., & Greve, W. (2009). Resilience: A conceptual bridge between coping and development. European Psychologist, 14(1), 40–50. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040.14.1.40 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040.14.1.40

Lindner, K., Hipfner-Boucher, K., Yamashita, A., Riehl, C. M., Ramdan, M. A., & Chen, X. (2020). Acculturation through the lens of language: Syrian refugees in Canada and Germany. Applied Psycholinguistics, 41(6), 1351–1374. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0142716420000454 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0142716420000454

Liu, J., Mansoor, Y., Johar, J., Kim, S., Sidiqi, A., & Kapoor, V. (2020). Strengths-based inquiry of resiliency factors among refugees in Metro Vancouver: A comparison of newly-arrived and settled refugees. Social Science & Medicine, 263, 113–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113243 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113243

Logie, C. H., Okumu, M., Latif, M., Musoke, D. K., Lukone, S. O., Mwima, S., & Kyambadde, P. (2021). Exploring resource scarcity and contextual influences on wellbeing among young refugees in Bidi Bidi refugee settlement, Uganda: Findings from a qualitative study. Conflict and Health, 15(1), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-020-00336-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-020-00336-3

Lukens, E. P., & McFarlane, W. R. (2004). Psychoeducation as evidence-based practice: Considerations for practice, research, and policy. Brief Treatment & Crisis Intervention, 4(3), 205–225. https://doi.org/10.1093/brief-treatment/mhh019 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/brief-treatment/mhh019

Lyons, M. J., O’Connor, M. H., Feinberg, I., Whitaker, D., Eriksen, M., Owen-Smith, A., Jivani, S., Tamer, M., Kim, E., & Makor, G. (2021). Comparing the health and welfare of refugees and non-refugees at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic: The results of a community needs assessment. Journal of Refugee & Global Health, 4(1), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.55504/2473-0327.1065 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55504/2473-0327.1065

Macklin, A., & Blum, J. (2021, January). Country Fiche: Canada. ASILE. https://www.asileproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Country-Fiche_CANADA_Final_Pub.pdf

Malti, T. (2020). Children and violence: Nurturing social–emotional development to promote mental health. Social Policy Report, 33(2), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1002/sop2.8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/sop2.8

Malti, T., & Cheah, C. S. (2021). Toward complementarity: Specificity and commonality in social–emotional development: Introduction to the special section. Child Development, 92(6), e1085–e1094. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13690 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13690

Masten, A., Best, K., & Garmezy, N. (1990). Resilience and development: Contributions from the study of children who overcome adversity. Development and Psychopathology, 2(4), 425–444. https://10.1017/S0954579400005812 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579400005812

Miller, K. K., Brown, C. R., Shramko, M., & Svetaz, M. V. (2019). Applying trauma-informed practices to the care of refugee and immigrant youth: 10 clinical pearls. Children, 6(8), Article 94. https://doi.org/10.3390/children6080094 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/children6080094

O’Brien, J., Fossey, E., & Palmer, V. J. (2021). A scoping review of the use of co‐design methods with culturally and linguistically diverse communities to improve or adapt mental health services. Health & Social Care in the Community, 29(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13105 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13105

Paloma, V., de la Morena, I., Sladkova, J., & López‐Torres, C. (2020). A peer support and peer mentoring approach to enhancing resilience and empowerment among refugees settled in southern Spain. Journal of Community Psychology, 48(5), 1438–1451. https://doi.og/10.1002/jcop.22338 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22338

Praznik, J., & Shields, J. (2018, July 3). An anatomy of settlement services in Canada: A guide. Ryerson University. https://bmrc-irmu.info.yorku.ca/files/2018/07/An-Anatomy-of-Settlement-Services-in-Canada_BMRCIRMU.pdf

Puntis, S., Rugkåsa, J., Forrest, A., Mitchell, A., & Burns, T. (2015). Associations between continuity of care and patient outcomes in mental health care: A systematic review. Psychiatric Services, 66(4), 354–363. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201400178 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201400178

Renner, A., Hoffmann, R., Nagl, M., Roehr, S., Jung, F., Grochtdreis, T., Konig, H., Riedel-Heller, S., & Kersting, A. (2020). Syrian refugees in Germany: Perspectives on mental health and coping strategies. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 129, Article109906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109906 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109906

Riggs, E., Davis, E., Gibbs, L., Block, K., Szwarc, J., Casey, S., Duell-Piening, P., & Waters, E. (2012). Accessing maternal and child health services in Melbourne, Australia: Reflections from refugee families and service providers. BMC Health Services Research, 12(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-12-117 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-12-117

Rural Development Institute, Brandon University, and Immigration Research West. (2015, May). Immigration settlement services and gaps in citizenship and Immigration Canada’s western region. https://www.brandonu.ca/rdi/files/2015/09/Western-Canada-report.May-2015.pdf

Salami, B., Salma, J., & Hegadoren, K. (2019). Access and utilization of mental health services for immigrants and refugees: Perspectives of immigrant service providers. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 28(1), 152–161. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12512 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12512

Santiago, C. D., Bustos, Y., Jolie, S. A., Flores Toussaint, R., Sosa, S. S., Raviv, T., & Cicchetti, C. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 on immigrant and refugee families: Qualitative perspectives from newcomer students and parents. School Psychology, 36(5), 348–357. https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000448 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000448

Shannon, P. J., Wieling, E., Simmelink-McCleary, J., & Becher, E. (2015). Beyond stigma: Barriers to discussing mental health in refugee populations. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 20(3), 281–296. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2014.934629 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2014.934629

Sirin, S. R., & Rogers-Sirin, L. (2015, October). The educational and mental health needs of Syrian refugee children. Migration Policy Institute. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/educational-and-mental-health-needs-syrian-refugee-children

Soto, A., Smith, T. B., Griner, D., Domenech Rodríguez, M., & Bernal, G. (2018). Cultural adaptations and therapist multicultural competence: Two meta‐analytic reviews. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(11), 1907–1923. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22679 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22679

Soukenik, E., Haran, H., Kirsch, J., Pyakurel, S., & Maleku, A. (2022). Barriers and facilitators of mental health service utilisation among Bhutanese refugees in the USA: Findings from a mixed-methods study. British Journal of Social Work,52(3), 1552–1576. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab123 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab123

Speidel, R., Galarneau, E., Elsayed, D., Mahhouk, S., Filippelli, J., Colasante, T., & Malti, T. (2021). Refugee children’s social–emotional capacities: Links to mental health upon resettlement and buffering effects on pre-migratory adversity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22), Article 12180. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182212180 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182212180

Srivastava, P., & Panday, R. (2016). Psychoeducation an effective tool as treatment modality in mental health. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 4(1), 123–130. https://doi.org/10.25215/0401.153 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25215/0401.153

Stone, R. A. T., Cardemil, E. V., Keefe, K., Bik, P., Dyer, Z., & Clark, K. E. (2020). A community mental health needs assessment of a racially and ethnically diverse population in New England: Narratives from community stakeholders. Community Mental Health Journal, 56(5), 947–958. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-020-00562-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-020-00562-2

Sulaiman-Hill, C. M. R., & Thompson, S. C. (2012). “Thinking too much”: Psychological distress, sources of stress and coping strategies of resettled Afghan and Kurdish refugees. Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 6(2), 63–86. https://doi.org/10.3998/jmmh.10381607.0006.205 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3998/jmmh.10381607.0006.205

Tay, A. K., Riley, A., Islam, R., Welton-Mitchell, C., Duchesne, B., Waters, V., Varner, A., Moussa, B., Mahmudul Alam, A. N. M., Elshazly, M. A., Silove, D., & Ventevogel, P. (2019). The culture, mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of Rohingya refugees: A systematic review. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 28(5), 489–494. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796019000192 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796019000192

Thomas, F. C., Roberts, B., Luitel, N. P., Upadhaya, N., & Tol, W. A. (2011). Resilience of refugees displaced in the developing world: A qualitative analysis of strengths and struggles of urban refugees in Nepal. Conflict and Health, 5, Article 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1505-5-20 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1505-5-20

UNHCR. (2016). Starting out–Why education for refugees matters. https://www.unhcr.org/starting-out.html#:~:text=On%20average%2C%20UNHCR%20estimates%20that,schooling%20because%20of%20forced%20displacement

UNHCR. (2017, June). Community‐based protection & mental health & psychosocial support. https://www.refworld.org/docid/593ab6add.html

UNHCR. (2022). Global trends: Forced displacement in 2021. https://www.unhcr.org/62a9d1494/global-trends-report-2021

van der Boor, C. F., & White, R. (2020). Barriers to accessing and negotiating mental health services in asylum seeking and refugee populations: The application of the candidacy framework. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 22(1), 156–174. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-019-00929-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-019-00929-y

Vickers, M., McCarthy, F., & Zammit, K. (2017). Peer mentoring and intercultural understanding: Support for refugee-background and immigrant students beginning university study. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 60, 198–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2017.04.015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2017.04.015

Wallerstein, N., Oetzel, J. G., Sanchez-Youngman, S., Boursaw, B., Dickson, E., Kastelic, S., Koegel, P., Lucero, J. E., Magarati, M., Ortiz, K., Parker, M., Peña, J., Richmond, A., & Duran, B. (2020). Engage for equity: A long-term study of community-based participatory research and community-engaged research practices and outcomes. Health Education & Behavior, 47(3), 380–390. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198119897075 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198119897075

Walther, L., Amann, J., Flick, U., Ta, T. M. T., Bajbouj, M., & Hahn, E. (2021). A qualitative study on resilience in adult refugees in Germany. BMC Public Health, 21, Article 828. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10817-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10817-6

Woodgate, R. L., Busolo, D. S., Crockett, M., Dean, R. A., Amaladas, M. R., & Plourde, P. J. (2017). A qualitative study on African immigrant and refugee families’ experiences of accessing primary health care services in Manitoba, Canada: It’s not easy! International Journal for Equity in Health, 16(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-016-0510-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-016-0510-x

Wylie, L., Corrado, A. M., Edwards, N., Benlamri, M., & Murcia Monroy, D. E. (2020). Reframing resilience: Strengthening continuity of patient care to improve the mental health of immigrants and refugees. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 29(1), 69–79. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12650 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12650

Zolezzi, M., Alamri, M., Shaar, S., & Rainkie, D. (2018). Stigma associated with mental illness and its treatment in the Arab culture: A systematic review. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 64(6), 597–609. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764018789200 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764018789200