Urgent need for validated trauma and mental health screening tools for refugee children and youth

Excerpt

Due to the civil war in Syria and other new and on-going conflicts, the number of forcibly displaced individuals worldwide has exceeded 59.5 million [1]. Approximately 19.5 million persons are refugees and in 2014 children below 18 years constituted 51 % of the refugee population which is the highest figure in more than a decade [1]. Both western immigration countries and the sub-regions of conflict areas are annually receiving thousands of refugee children and youth. Despite the scarce literature on trauma and other mental health problems in refugee children and youth compared to adults, available studies indicate a high prevalence of mental health problems among refugee and asylum-seeking children and youth due to a series of factors related to forced migration including displacement, war, violence, poverty and hunger [2, 3]. Unaddressed trauma and mental health problems are of paramount importance as mental health issues may result in increased morbidity and mortality [4]. Trauma and mental health problems are further related to decreased quality of life and mental health problems are in the context of refugees related to poorer social adaptation in their receiving country [5]. To avoid such adverse consequences, early detection and treatment of mental health problems in refugee children and youth is of paramount importance. …