title: Growing up whole: somali children and adolescents in america.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This is the second phase of a study aimed at determining the cultural characteristics, psychiatric needs, acculturative stressors, and management approaches of immigrant Somali children's experience in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 10-year demographics review of the Minnesota Departments of Human Services, and Children, Families, and Learning was completed. Data was obtained through unstructured interviews with educational staff, healthcare providers, and Somali children and their families in three communities, regarding cultural characteristics, barriers to care, perceptions of medical/psychiatric needs, and issues of acculturation. Health professionals/psychiatrists at a tertiary care center were also surveyed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Identified acculturation issues of adolescent Somali immigrants included acculturative stress, racial discrimination, khat use, legal difficulties, language barriers, school opportunities, changes in family dynamics and developmental issues, clinical vulnerabilities, unique experiences of adolescent females, and development of new public/social behavior patterns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immigrant Somali adolescents are at high risk for mental health problems due to the unique challenges they face as they attempt to assimilate two very polar cultures into one self-identity during a phase of development characterized by physical, cognitive, and emotional upheaval. Current management experiences warrant recommendations that include integration of community services, schools, and the medical system to provide education in cultural diversity, multicultural school and community publications, team sports, individual education plans, support groups, and Somali representation in school staff that has established trust with families and acceptance of mental health issues and care.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Scuglik was from the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, at the time of this study; Dr. Scuglik is now from the Department of Psychiatry, Affinity Health Systems, Appleton, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Scuglik
authors.forename: Renato D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Alarcon