The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has developed a refugee mental health guide based on findings from a CAMH research study on refugee mental health practices. The study, funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, consisted of an environmental scan, in-depth interviews, case study site visits and a literature review. Over 150 participants from nine provinces across Canada were involved in the study, including refugee clients, settlement workers, program managers, policy-makers and clinicians.
The purpose of the study was to learn about what service providers across the country are doing to support refugees’ mental health, and what resources settlement workers need in order to better support their clients’ mental health. The study revealed two key findings regarding the training and education needs of individuals who work with refugees. First, settlement service providers, in partnership with mental health professionals, would like to provide services to refugee clients that are timely, culturally competent and responsive to complex adaptation needs during resettlement. Secondly, settlement workers and agencies would like to learn more about better supporting their clients’ emotional needs, and require stronger working relationships with mental health professionals and agencies.
The first part of the guide presents the findings of the research study, and the second part provides information and resources for addressing the mental health needs of refugees for service providers and settlement workers.
See “Refugee Mental Health: Promising Practices and Partnership Building Resources,” CAMH, 2010, available at knowledgex.camh.net.