Exploring Mental Health Screening Feasibility and Training of Refugee Health Coordinators

Abstract

Forty-four refugee health coordinators responded to a subset of questions from a 28-item, national survey exploring the mental health training of refugee health coordinators and the feasibility of refugee mental health screening. Most participants reported that it would be possible to administer a brief mental health screen; however, only half had received any mental health training. A minority of participants identified symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder or major depression as their top concerns related to refugee mental health. The majority requested training on the mental health needs of arriving refugees. Training participation was associated with screening and positive referral outcomes.

KEYWORDS:

• Mental health screening
• refugee mental health
• refugee health coordinators
• refugee public health screening
• mental health training