title: Addressing health disparities in the mental health of refugee children and adolescents through community-based participatory research: a study in 2 communities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to understand the problems, strengths, and help-seeking behaviors of Somali Bantu and Bhutanese refugees and determine local expressions of mental health problems among youths in both communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used qualitative research methods to develop community needs assessments and identify local terms for child mental health problems among Somali Bantu and Bhutanese refugees in Greater Boston and Springfield, Massachusetts, between 2011 and 2014. A total of 56 Somali Bantu and 93 Bhutanese refugees participated in free list and key informant interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Financial and language barriers impeded the abilities of families to assist youths who were struggling academically and socially. Participants identified resources both within and outside the refugee community to help with these problems. Both communities identified areas of distress corresponding to Western concepts of conduct disorders, depression, and anxiety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are numerous challenges faced by Somali Bantu and Bhutanese youths, as well as strengths and resources that promote resilience. Future steps include using culturally informed methods for identifying those in need of services and developing community-based prevention programs.
authors.affiliation: Theresa S. Betancourt and Tej Mishra are with the Department of Global Health and Population, Research Program on Children and Global Adversity, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Rochelle Frounfelker is with the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Research Program on Children and Global Adversity, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Aweis Hussein and Rita Falzarano are with Shanbaro Association, Chelsea Collaborative, Chelsea, MA.
authors.forename: Theresa S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Betancourt
authors.forename: Rochelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frounfelker
authors.forename: Tej
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Aweis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Falzarano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001631:Bhutan / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012998:Somalia / Q000208:ethnology