Examining Traumatic Experiences: Violence, Loss, Isolation, Cultural Struggle, and Their Influence on the Mental Health of Unaccompanied Rohingya Youth Resettled in the U.S.

Abstract

The Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority from Myanmar, are a relatively small, yet extremely vulnerable group of refugees in the United States. Most research on Rohingya focuses on trauma in Myanmar rather than adjustment to the U.S., and almost none looks specifically at adolescents. Therefore, in this paper the data are from qualitative focus groups (n = 10) with 23 service providers to help answer the research question: In what ways did service providers discuss the trauma histories and mental health adjustment of Rohingya unaccompanied refugee minors? Results indicate that both pre-migration trauma and aspects of adjustment post-arrival are factors influencing the rocky start to life in U.S. communities. Specifically, a history of normalized violence was noted to lead to acting out behaviors and seeking of harm; and their vast experiences of loss (family, friends, and culture) were discussed in terms of survivors’ guilt and prolonged mental health challenges. Themes in terms of post migration isolation in a new environment, and cultural struggles in understanding U.S. culture and the norms of foster care were also discussed. Implications include the need to destigmatize mental health services and seek alternatives, help youth overcome the survivor’s guilt, and ensure both foster parents and case management staff have adequate training and tools to work with youth who have experienced extreme institutional discrimination, personal violence, and ethnic cleansing.