Help-seeking behavior among Southeast Asian refugees

Abstract

This study examined the help‐seeking behavior of Vietnamese, Cambodians, Lao, Hmong, and Chinese‐Vietnamese refugees and compared the help‐seeking patterns employed by these groups in their native country with those currently used after resettlement in the United States. There were three major findings: (1) intergroup differences in help‐seeking behavior were found in Asia and also in the United States. In Asia, Vietnamese were more likely to utilize Western medicine and the Hmong least likely to do so. In the United States, Cambodians were more likely to utilize mainstream services and again the Hmong were less likely to do so; (2) for all groups there was a dramatic change from prominently utilizing traditional medicine in their home country to a higher usage of mainstream services in the United States; (3) regardless of the significant increase in the use of Western medicine, traditional medicine continued to be important for all five Southeast Asian refugee groups after resettlement. Furthermore, subjects from all five groups reported the use of a dual health care system both in Asia and the United States. The implications of these findings for community services and health care providers are discussed.

Understanding mental health needs of Southeast Asian refugees: Historical, cultural, and contextual challenges

“…First, refugees will inevitably experience the sense of loss. The majority of SEAR have lost signifi cant others (e.g., friends or family members) and are often not aware of the whereabouts of loved ones (Chung & Lin, 1994). Not only do SEAR endure personal loss, they also face the loss of material belongings, the loss of their country, and the loss of a familiar way of life (Abueg & Chun, 1996).…”

“…For instance, it has been estimated that between 800,000 and one million SEAR were residing in the United States between 1975 and the early 1990s (Chung & Lin, 1994;Morrow, 1994). In 1989 alone, 106,902 refugees were admitted into the United States, with 42.8% from Southeast Asia, 36.9% from the Soviet Union, and the remaining 20.3% from other parts of the world (Eastern Europe, Near East, Africa, and Latin America; Offi ce of Refugee Resettlement, 1990).…”

“…Additionally, occupation and education levels vary within these groups. For instance, the Hmong and Cambodians are less educated, and reported the lowest level of literacy in their own language and English compared with Laotians and Vietnamese (Chung & Lin, 1994). Furthermore, Hmong and Cambodians have had the least exposure to Western ideas and concepts in their native countries in contrast to Vietnamese and Laotians (Chung & Lin, 1994).…”

“…For instance, the Hmong and Cambodians are less educated, and reported the lowest level of literacy in their own language and English compared with Laotians and Vietnamese (Chung & Lin, 1994). Furthermore, Hmong and Cambodians have had the least exposure to Western ideas and concepts in their native countries in contrast to Vietnamese and Laotians (Chung & Lin, 1994). Mattson (1993, p. 156) has described two waves of Southeast refugees: "the earlier refugees tended to be university educated, wealthy, and infl uential in their homelands whereas the second wave (the boat people) were often illiterate in their own languages, were unfamiliar with Western technology, and lived on a subsistence level (most were families of farmers and/or fi shermen from rural areas).…”

The Role of Psycho-Sociocultural Factors in Suicide Risk Among Mong/Hmong Youth

“…Of the current research studies on the Mong/Hmong population, more have focused on the mental health needs of older adults rather than children and young adults (Boehnlein & Kinzie, 1996; R. C. Chung & Lin, 1994;Mouanoutoua & Brown, 1995;Nicholson, 1997;Ying & Akursu, 1997). Furthermore, the availability and development of culturally sensitive and appropriate measurements for the Mong/Hmong population is scarce.…”