Needs Assessment of Mental Health Services among Cuban Refugees Resettled in Roanoke, Virginia, USA. An Exploratory Study

Abstract

A journey is usually defined as an act of traveling from one place to another; an odyssey is described as an eventful journey. American society has found the odyssey undertaken by refugees and immigrants landing on its shores to be a pressing issue. The following paper intends to explore the need for mental health services among Cuban refugees resettled in Roanoke, Virginia, USA. During our data collection, we gathered information regarding their levels of stress. We tracked indices of post-traumatic stress disorder based on their experiences during migration, their perception of needed mental health services, and their perception of barriers to access mental health services. Based on this data, social identity theory, and case studies, we made an exploratory approach of current mental health needs among Cuban refugees.