Addressing Mental Health and Intentional Self-Harm in Afghan Patients

Refugee and immigrant populations in the United States are at an elevated risk for a variety of mental health challenges. Post-traumatic stress, social isolation, experiencing racism, and elevated unemployment are among the correlates of increased mental health risks, including self-harming and suicidal behaviors. Among other factors, recent Afghan refugees or immigrants may encounter these issues due to the limited experience and resources available for healthcare providers working with them. To support healthcare providers in delivering care that is evidence-based and culturally appropriate, an educational resource was developed for identifying and then providing initial care for the mental health needs of the Afghan population. Following a literature review, multiple experts in working with Afghan patients (psychiatrists, other mental health providers, and primary care physicians) were interviewed about providing assessment and treatment services for this population. This information was consolidated to create an educational resource that can be delivered as a self-directed E-Learning module to be broadly distributed. The expectation is that these materials will support healthcare and other providers in their efforts to deliver high-quality, culturally informed mental health care for the Afghan refugee population.