Title |
The mental health and help-seeking behaviour of resettled Afghan refugees in Australia
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Published in |
International Journal of Mental Health Systems, August 2017
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DOI | 10.1186/s13033-017-0157-z |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Shameran Slewa-Younan, Anisa Yaser, Maria Gabriela Uribe Guajardo, Haider Mannan, Caroline A. Smith, Jonathan M. Mond |
Abstract |
Psychological trauma, in particular, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, are highly prevalent among resettled refugees. However, little is known regarding the mental health status and associated help-seeking behaviour of resettled Afghan refugees in Australia. A sample of 150 resettled Afghan refugees (74 males; mean age 32.8 years, SD = 12.2) living in Adelaide, South Australia were recruited. Self-reported measures of PTSD, depression, exposure to traumatic events, functional impairment, self-recognition of PTSD symptomatology and help-seeking behaviours were completed. Multivariate analysis of variables associated with help-seeking was conducted. Forty-four percent of participants met criteria for clinically significant PTSD symptoms and all but one participant reported being exposed to 1 or more traumatic and/or conflict related events, such as 'losing your property and wealth'. Moreover, 14.7% of participants had symptoms suggestive of clinically significant depression. General practitioners were the most common source of help in relation to mental health problems, with very few participants (4.6%) seeking help from specialist trauma and torture mental health services. Self-recognition of having a PTSD related mental health problem and functional impairment levels were both found to be independent predictors of help-seeking (p ≤ .05). The findings provide further evidence for high rates of PTSD symptomatology and low uptake of mental care among resettled refugees. Poor self-recognition of the presence and/or adverse impact of PTSD symptoms may need to be targeted in mental health promotion programs designed to improve "mental health literacy" and thereby promote early and appropriate help-seeking where this is needed. |
Twitter Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 3 | 25% |
Australia | 2 | 17% |
Indonesia | 1 | 8% |
Japan | 1 | 8% |
Unknown | 5 | 42% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 10 | 83% |
Scientists | 2 | 17% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 117 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 17 | 15% |
Student > Bachelor | 12 | 10% |
Student > Master | 11 | 9% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 10 | 9% |
Researcher | 7 | 6% |
Other | 12 | 10% |
Unknown | 48 | 41% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Psychology | 28 | 24% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 12 | 10% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 10 | 9% |
Social Sciences | 7 | 6% |
Unspecified | 2 | 2% |
Other | 7 | 6% |
Unknown | 51 | 44% |