Depression-level symptoms among Syrian refugees: findings from a Canadian longitudinal study

Abstract

Background

Canada launched the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Initiative in 2015 and resettled over 40,000 refugees.

Aim

To evaluate the prevalence of depression-level symptoms at baseline and one year post-resettlement and analyze its predictors.

Methods

Data come from the Syrian Refugee Integration and Long-term Health Outcomes in Canada study (SyRIA.lth) involving 1924 Syrian refugees recruited through a variety of community-based strategies. Data were collected using structured interviews in 2017 and 2018. Depression symptoms were measured using Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). Analysis for associated factors was executed using multinomial logistic regression.

Results

Mean age was 38.5 years (SD 13.8). Sample included 49% males and 51% females settled in Ontario (48%), Quebec (36%) and British Columbia (16%). Over 74% always needed an interpreter, and only 23% were in employment. Prevalence of depression-level symptoms was 15% at baseline and 18% in year-2 (p < 0.001). Significant predictors of depression-level symptoms at year-2 were baseline depression, sponsorship program, province, poor language skills, lack of satisfaction with housing conditions and with health services, lower perceived control, lower perceived social support and longer stay in Canada.

Conclusion

Increase in depression-level symptoms deserves attention through focusing on identified predictors particularly baseline depression scores, social support, perceived control and language ability.

Keywords:

• Syrian refugees
• depression
• Canada
• risk factors
• PHQ-9

Acknowledgements

The research team is thankful to all the participants for sharing information and our community organization partners in Vancouver, Okanagan, Windsor, Kitchener, Toronto and Montreal for their support in recruitment. The dedication and hard work of the research assistants is much appreciated to make this project a success. The authors thank all investigators, advisors, community partners and volunteers who contributed to the SyRIA.lth* project.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Notes

*Adela Colhon, Adnan Al Mhamied, Ahmed Bayoumi, Anas Issa, Anna Oda, Anneke Rummens, Arman Hamidian, Ben C.H. Kuo, Branka Agic, Carolyn Beukeboom, Farah Ahmad, Ghayda Hassan, Huda Bukhari, Janet Cleveland, Jennifer Hyndman, Jill Hanley, Jonathan Bridekirk, Kashmala Qasim, Kathy Sherrell, Kwame McKenzie, Lana Saad, Lina Abdullah, Mahi Khalaf, Marcela Diaz, May Massijeh, Michaela Hynie, Mona Awwad, Monira Dali, Oula Hajjar , Rabiha (Fakhri) Jamil, Rana Mohammad, Rana Nourallah, Riham Al-Saadi, Rim Khyar, Rosemary Georges , Susan McGrath, Yogendra Shakya and Youssef Demashkieh.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) through project funds [FRN# 148960]. FA time during this project was partially supported by the CIHR New Investigator Award [FRN# 136657]. The Early Researcher Award [ER 13-09-081] from the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (held by FA) supported NO's time as post-doctoral fellow.