Summarizes the final report of the Canadian Task Force on Mental Health Issues Affecting Immigrants and Refugees and presents data from the Refugee Resettlement Project, a longitudinal investigation of the adaptation of Southeast Asian refugees in Canada. The task force identified women, children, and the elderly as requiring the special attention of service providers because these groups often encountered unique and sometimes disproportionate amounts of stress. In addition, unemployed refugees suffered higher levels of depression than did those with jobs, although underemployed refugees who expressed hopes for a better future for their children experienced no adverse mental health consequences. In addition, refugees who succeeded in bringing family members to Canada had a more significant improvement in mental health than did those still working at reunification. To promote the well-being of newcomers, countries such as Canada need to provide more opportunities for employment and job advancement and to reexamine policies that hinder family reunification. Receiving countries also need to recognize and support like-ethnic communities, which facilitate early adaptation of newcomers and help alleviate resettlement stress. Ensuring the mental health of newcomers is necessary in order for Canada to realize the economic and social benefits of immigration.
