Mental Health

DEPRESSION

While we do not recommend routinely screening for depression, physicians should pay special attention to potential depressive symptoms. This is a very common issue in the refugee population and patients will often present with somatic symptoms (non-specific headaches, abdominal pain, fatigue, dizziness, etc.). If symptoms of depression or any other mental illness do become apparent or if the patient raises concerns about their mental health, appropriate counseling and/or referral should then be offered.

 

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)

Do not routinely screen for a history of traumatic events. This can actually cause harm in well-functioning individuals. Remember that not all refugees who have experienced traumatic events will develop PTSD. However, since PTSD is more common in refugees than in the general Canadian population, physicians should pay close attention to potential PTSD symptoms. Again, somatic symptoms are very frequent in this population.

It is important to note that post-migration mental health is largely dependent on how well refugees are able to resettle. The post-migration experience plays a significant role in PTSD (Kirmayer et al., 2011). Therefore, it is essential to ensure good socioeconomic support and refer to a social worker if any social issue is identified.