Overcoming the Mental Health Stigma and Facilitating Cultural Integration for Refugee Youth by Providing Counseling Services at School
- Autores: Ralitsa Rano
- Localización: Global Education Magazine, ISSN-e 2255-033X, Nº. 4, 2013
- Idioma: inglés
- Enlaces
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Resumen
Refugee youth come from all over the world: Africa, Asia and Middle East—and all experience culture shock as they adjust to their new home in the United States. Along with “carrying the baggage” of numerous losses and past experiences of trauma they are expected to adjust quickly to a different culture and get acquainted with the American school system while learning a new language. Parents who are the usual source of support are often struggling themselves, not just to adapt to the new society but also to be able to provide for their children. All these situations can be very overwhelming for refugee youth. Jewish Family Service of Colorado’s International KidSuccess counseling services play a key role in supporting refugee children and adolescents in their cultural adjustment journey so that they can be successful at school and have a better life and future in their new country.This article will focus on the cultural adjustment process and the challenges refugee youth encounter throughout its four stages. Refugees’ views about clinical services and overcoming the stigma associated with mental health will also be explored.
