Assessing Mental Health Needs and Disparities Among Syrian Refugees Resettled in Michigan

Syrian refugees face increased risk for symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of psychological disorders symptoms among Syrian refugees resettled in Michigan, the extent of their utilization of mental health care services, their interest in seeking professional assistance, and the factors influencing their help-seeking behavior. Michigan is a state with a significant Arab-American population, providing a unique context to explore mental health needs and barriers to service utilization. Sixty-three participants were recruited using the database of a non-profit organization and a snowball sampling method. The main study outcome was the prevalence of possible mental health disorders. The Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25 were used to screen for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. A questionnaire assessed the utilization of mental health care services, the interest in seeking professional assistance, and the barriers hindering Syrian refugees’ access to mental health services. We examined the association between experiencing mental health disorder symptoms and help-seeking behaviors and the association between interest in seeking professional assistance and being symptomatic. The prevalence of mental health disorder symptoms was summarized using frequencies, percentages, and mean values. A two-tailed Fisher’s exact test assessed the correlation between variables. Sixty-five percent (65%) of the participants screened positive for at least one disorder, suggesting a high prevalence of possible mental health disorders among participants. Seventeen percent (17%) reported seeing a professional; however, 78% expressed interest in seeking professional assistance. Most reported barriers to accessing mental health, including lack of information, fear of judgment, and shame. There was a statistically significant correlation between their last year utilization of mental health care services and their interest in seeking professional assistance. Similarly, there was a statistically significant association between interest in seeking professional assistance and being symptomatic. Syrian refugees continue to experience mental health challenges 2–5 years after resettlement. This population underutilizes mental health services due to several barriers. However, participants expressed their desire for these services in Michigan.