Reviews the literature on the mental health of immigrant and refugee children to highlight factors that tend to predict distress and resilience. The small but growing literature addressing the mental health status of refugee and immigrant children identifies two important themes: (1) exposure to violence places children at high risk for mental disorders and symptoms; and (2) family factors play a significant role in children’s adjustment to their migration experience. While it is true that not all children who are exposed to trauma develop mental health problems, factors that place children at high risk include lack of language competency and discrimination from the larger society. Moreover, little is known about the use of mental health services by immigrant children and their families. Recommendations for ways to improve the emotional health of immigrant and refugee children include: assessment of second language acquisition and performance in schools; family interventions to support and maintain recently arrived families; placement of unaccompanied minors in supportive, preferably co-ethnic families; and development of teacher skills in multiculturalism and linguistic diversity.
