Common Mental Health Problems in Immigrants and Refugees: General Approach in Primary Care
This evidence review by Kirmayer LJ et al. for the Canadian Collaboration for Immigrant and Refugee Health (CCIRH), published in CMAJ (2011), provides primary care clinicians with a comprehensive approach to mental health assessment, prevention, and treatment in immigrant and refugee populations. It summarises risk factors and clinical strategies for managing depression, anxiety, PTSD, and somatic presentations, emphasising culturally sensitive assessment and staged care.
Source: Kirmayer LJ et al. for CCIRH, CMAJ 2011 183(12):E959–E967
Related Guides
Mental Health in Immigrants and Refugees — CMAJ 201
Evidence-based CMAJ 2011 primary care guide covering depression, anxiety, PTSD, and somatic presentations in immigrant and refugee populations.
WHO Fact Sheet: Refugee and Migrant Mental Health
WHO evidence summary on mental health in displaced populations — depression, anxiety, PTSD, psychosis, and barriers to care. Updated September 2025.
PTSD — Clinical Guidance for Refugee Patients
Guidance on recognising and managing PTSD in refugee patients, covering symptoms, the PC-PTSD-5 screening tool, and specialist referral pathways.