Mental Health in Immigrants and Refugees — CMAJ 201
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. This resource is essential for primary care practitioners seeking evidence-based, culturally informed approaches to addressing the mental health needs of newcomers in Canada.
References
- Common mental health problems in immigrants and refugees: general approach in primary care— Laurence J. Kirmayer, Lavanya Narasiah, Marie Munoz, Meb Rashid, Andrew G. Ryder, Jaswant Guzder, Ghayda Hassan, Cécile Rousseau and Kevin Pottie(2011)DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.090292
Related Guides
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.
WHO Toolkit Tool 1: Main Communicable Diseases
WHO operational guidance on communicable diseases in refugee populations — TB, HIV, malaria, and NTDs — aligned with the WHO Global Action Plan 2019-2030.
mhGAP Humanitarian Intervention Guide (mhGAP-HIG)
WHO clinical protocols for mental, neurological, and substance use conditions in humanitarian emergencies, designed for non-specialist health workers.