Influences of time, ethnicity, and attachment on depression in Southeast Asian refugees.

The author reports on a study investigating the question of whether certain phases of resettlement are accompanied by an elevated risk for depression in Southeast Asian refugees in Canada. In general, the longer the Southeast Asian refugees remained in Canada, the better their mental health. However, unmarried or otherwise unattached Laotians and Vietnamese refugees experienced high levels of depression 10-12 months after arrival. Two years after the initial investigation, this group, disadvantaged by a lack of social resources, continued to be more depressed than other refugees.