Role of Social Support on Mental Health Among Resettled Bhutanese Refugees in Ohio.

More than 80% of Bhutanese refugees have resettled in the United States. Social support can lead to better resilience against poor mental health outcomes among this population. This study assessed the role of social support on mental health among the resettled Bhutanese adults in Central Ohio. This study used data collected by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services on 200 Bhutanese adults in Columbus. Social support was measured using a 12-item perceived social support scale. The 25-item Hopkins Symptoms Checklist was used to quantify depression and anxiety experienced in the past month. One-in-three participants reported mental health problems. Compared to participants with high social support, those with medium (OR 5.28, 95% CI 2.09-13.37) and low social support (OR 10.94, 95% CI 2.53-47.33) had more than 5- and 10-fold increased odds of mental health problems respectively. Future studies could further explore the role of social support on mental health during relocation, resettlement, and acculturation processes.

Demographic and Psychosocial Factors Associated with Suicidal Ideation among Resettled Bhutanese Refugees.

This study aims to identify socio-demographic and psychosocial characteristics associated with the suicidal ideation among resettled Bhutanese refugees in the United States. Structured interviews were conducted with 200 resettled Bhutanese refugees in Columbus, Ohio. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify variables associated with suicidal ideation. Most participants were male (59.0%), married (77.9%), 55% reported no formal education, 12% were of Dalit ("lower") caste, and 6.2% reported suicidal ideation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis included four variables that were significant at p < 0.05 in bivariate analyses: caste, post-settlement difficulties, mental health diagnosis, and social support. Higher odds of suicidal ideation were linked to mental health diagnosis [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 8.7], low social support (AOR: 23.6), and post-settlement difficulties (AOR: 1.4). In the multivariable model, untouchable caste had elevated odds of suicidal ideation but statistically not significant. Culturally competent mental health services are needed to support individuals at risk for suicidal ideation.