Southeast Asian refugee children: a school-based mental health intervention.
One particular focus of refugee studies in the United States has been the violence experience of Southeast Asian (S.E.A.) refugee children and its impact on mental health and school adaptation. Although virtually all researchers have found that the children have high rates of depression and/or post-traumatic stress disorder, findings concerning successful school adaptation have been inconclusive. Even so, concern has been generated on how to best meet the children's mental health needs. The purpose of our study was to provide an eight-week school-based program that was designed to reduce depression symptoms of S.E.A. refugee children. Specifically, this collaborative program addressed refugee adaptation issues, children's culture and the development of coping skills. All of the children were screened for depression using the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). Analysis of CDI data revealed that children's depression scores had a significant decrease between screening times 1 (approximately one month before the intervention) and 2 (fourth week of the intervention), 1 and 3 (eighth week of the intervention) and 1 and 4 (one month following the intervention). Globally, culturally sensitive mental health school-based programs may be an appropriate intervention to assist immigrant and refugee children in making a successful adaptation to host countries.
Fox
Patricia G
PG
Northern Illinois University, School of Nursing, 1240 Normal Road, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA. pfox@niu.edu
Rossetti
Jeanette
J
Burns
Kenneth R
KR
Popovich
Judith
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002160:Cambodia / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015146:Midwestern United States; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012573:School Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology