Describes the general characteristics, service needs, and mental health status of Amerasians, the offspring of United States military personnel and Vietnamese women who were considered outcasts by members of their own culture. The study sample consisted of 90 Amerasian adults who had resettled in a large Southern town in the U.S. Virtually all the study subjects lived in deteriorated, drug- and crime-filled neighborhoods, and unemployment among them was higher than in the general population. Among the key findings were that: (1) subjects had low spoken and written English skills; (2) subjects were isolated from mainstream American culture; and (3) almost 25 percent of the subjects suffered from reactive depression and reported a high level of stress and tension in their life situations. Despite difficulties and obstacles, many of the subjects reported experiencing a greater sense of freedom in the U.S. than in their native country because their mixed racial background was not a focus of attention or stigma. Amerasians could benefit from such long-term social services as training in skills for higher-paying jobs and English language instruction. These services would be predicated on empowering refugees, strengthening the family unit, and promoting traditional ethnic organizations as catalysts for socialization.
