Objectives
The objectives are to: 1) summarize the available evidence regarding the social determinants of migrant and refugee children’s mental health; 2) describe rapid shifts in the resettlement contexts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the changing social dynamics in North America and Europe; and 3) discuss implications for advocacy and care.
Methods
A review of the epidemiological and social science literature over the past 2 decades on the mental health and well-being of migrant and refugee children revealed reproducible evidence associating host-country characteristics and migrant-group profiles. This presentation will adopt a systemic perspective and highlight the viewpoints of migrant and refugee children, families, and their host communities.
Results
These results illustrate that fleeing war and persecution constitutes a risk factor for mental illness in children and youth; however, the impact of migration varies as a function of complex relations between the migrant and refugee groups and their host communities. Over the past 2 decades, the rise in xenophobia in North America and Europe, associated with mounting uncertainties and increased social inequalities, has aggrieved the living environments of migrant and refugee children. There has been an upsurge in discrimination and politicized bullying along racial and ethnic lines. The evidence about majority-minorities inequities during the pandemic have fueled psychological distress in youth and families, mobilized community resilience, and heightened distrust toward healthcare providers.
Conclusions
A coalition of practitioners working with migrant and refugee children and youth is warranted to restore safe, welcoming environments for our families facing social adversity settling into new communities. A multifactorial perspective, with direct engagement of communities, and training of mental health professionals may increase cultural sensitivity and help to restore trust toward healthcare providers.
SP, STRESS, ADV