Suicidal Ideation and Severity of Distress among Refugees Residing in Asylum Accommodations in Sweden

Anna Leiler, Michael Hollifield, Elisabet Wasteson and Anna Bjärtå
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Anna Leiler: Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden University, 831 25 Östersund, Sweden
Michael Hollifield: War Survivors Institute, Long Beach, CA 90815, USA
Elisabet Wasteson: Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden University, 831 25 Östersund, Sweden
Anna Bjärtå: Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden University, 831 25 Östersund, Sweden

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 15, 1-7

Abstract: Refugees worldwide suffer high levels of distress and are at increased risk for death by suicide. The Refugee Health Screener (RHS) was developed to screen for emotional distress among refugees and can be used to assess distress severity. This paper examines the association between distress severity and suicidal ideation in a sample of refugees residing in asylum accommodations. Data from the RHS and item 9 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was analyzed. Results showed that individuals at moderate and severe levels of distress were much more likely to exhibit suicidal ideation than individuals with low levels of distress. Even though we cannot conclude that individuals with low levels of distress do not have thoughts of ending their lives, further suicide assessment is warranted in asylum seekers with moderate to severe distress on the RHS.

Keywords: suicidal ideation; refugees; severity of distress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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