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It  is  estimated  that  there  are  26,000  undocumented  

youth  currently  living  in  California.  1    These  youth  were  

brought  to  the  United  States  by  their  parents  and  have  

spent  their  lives  growing  up  in  this  country,  becoming  just  

like  any  other  American.    These  youth  experience  unique  

challenges  when  they   age  into  the  transitional  

time  of  their  lives  

between  the  ages  of  16  

and  25  and  face  moving  

out  of  their  family  

homes  into  higher  

education  or  the  work  

force.  

Who  are  undocumented  Transitional-­‐Aged  Youth  (TAY)?  

UCLA  Department  of  Social  Welfare  

1  

February  2012  

Responses  to  these  mental  health  issues  have  been  rare.  

There  has  been  some  consideration  of  the  needs  of  

new  immigrants  and  refugees  but  this  has  not  led  

to  significant  service  development.    

[A  review  of  international  policy  ]  

WHY  WE  MUST  IMPROVE  ACCESS  TO  MENTAL  HEALTHCARE    FOR  UNDOCUMENTED  TRANSITIONAL-­‐AGED  YOUTH    

 

UCLA  Department  of  Social  Welfare  

ISSUES & AWARENESS WHO  are  Undocumented  TAY?          1  

Mental  Health  Challenges                2  

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What  unique  challenges  to  mental  health  do  undocumented    

transitional-­‐aged  youth  face?  Living  as  an  undocumented  transitional-­‐aged  

youth  in  the  United  States  presents  many  

stressors  such  as  struggles  with  identity,  stigma,  

acculturation  stress,  fear  of  deportation,  and  

limited  access  to  resources.    Additionally,  

undocumented  youth  are  forced  to  adapt  to  

social  barriers  and  isolation,  work  and  education  

limitations  and  legal  exclusions  from  society  after  

coming  to  terms  with  their  stigmatized  identity.    

The  discrimination  that  undocumented  

immigrants  face  increases  their  susceptibility  to  

developing  mental  illness.    2  

Nunc cursus magna quis

Donec sit amet arcu.

1.   Undocumented  immigrants  experience  significantly  more  traumatic  events  than  the  general  population,  especially  during  their  initial  migration.  3    These  traumas  lead  to  high  instances  of  Post-­‐Traumatic  Stress  Disorder  among  the  undocumented  community.    4    Social  stigma  is  correlated  with  low  self-­‐esteem,  fear,  shame,  guilt,  and  insecurity      among  undocumented  immigrants.    5    Undocumented  immigrants  are  more  likely  than  their  naturalized  peers  to  be  diagnosed  with  anxiety,  adjustment  and  alcohol  disorders.  6    Fears  of  deportation,  being  detained  or  having  a  family  member  detained  significantly  increase  anxiety,  depression,  feelings  of  abandonment,  eating  and  sleeping  disorders,  post-­‐traumatic  stress  disorder  and  behavior  changes  among  children  of  undocumented  parents.  7    

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The  stress  of  existing  within  two  cultures,  specifically  among  immigrants,  is  highly  correlated  with  mental  health  disorders  such  as  anxiety,  depression,  substance  abuse  and  suicidal  ideation.    18,  19    Chronic  fear  and  stress  impede  development,  hinder  the  development  of  mature  relationships  and  have  been  linked  to  the  development  of  anxiety  disorders  in  Latino  immigrant  adolescents.    20  

 Suicide  is  the  third  leading  cause  of  death  among  the  TAY  population  in  the  United  States  21  and  discrimination  leads  to  an  increase  in  suicidality  among  the  minority  TAY  population.    22    Undocumented   TAY’s   status   leaves  them   ineligible   for   health   insurance.  Recent  funding  cuts  to  trauma  centers  and   other   public   sources   that   cover  care   for   immigrants   make   it   difficult  for  them  to  treat  their  health  needs.  23    

 When   undocumented   individuals   are  able   to   receive   care,   it   may   be  culturally   insensitive   and   not   meet  their   needs.     Many   diagnostic   tools  used   for   assessment   of   mental  disorders   are   euro-­‐centric   and   are  frequently   inaccurate   in   assessing   the  needs   of   individuals   from   other  cultures.    24        There   is   a   shortage   of   Multi-­‐lingual  mental   health   professionals,   which  impedes   accessibility   for   the   Spanish-­‐speaking   immigrant   population   from  accessing  mental  health  service.  25

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1  Pew  Hispanic  Center  (http://www.pewhispanic.org)  2  Sue,S.,Fujino,D.C.,Hu,L.,Takeuchi,D.,&Zane,N.S.W.  (1991).  Community  mental  health  services  for  ethnic     minority  groups:  A  test  of  the  cultural  responsiveness  hypothesis.  Journal  of  Consulting  and  Clinical     Psychology,  59,533–540.  3  Hollifield,  M.,  Warner,  T.  D.,  Lian,  N.,  Krakow,  B.,  Jenkins,  J.  H.,  Kesler,J.,  et  al.  (2002).  Measuring  trauma  and     health  status  in  refugees:  A  critical  review.  JAMA,  288,  611–621.  4  Rasmussen,  A.,  Rosenfeld,  B.,  Reeves,  K.,  Keller,  A.S.  (2007)  The  effectsof  torture-­‐related  injuries  on  long-­‐   term  psychological  distress  in  a  Punjabi  Sikh  sample.  Journal  of    Abnormal  Psychology,  116,  734.  5  Dumon  WA.  (1983).    Effects  of  undocumented  migration  for  individuals  concerned,  Int  Migr.:  21:  218-­‐229.  6  González,  M.J.  &  González-­‐Ramos,  G.,  (2005).  Mental  Health  Care  for  New  Hispanic     Immigrants:  Innovative     Approaches  in  Contemporary  Clinical  Practice.  Binghamton,  NY:  The  Haworth  Social  Work  Practice     Press.  7  Kremer,  J.D.,  Moccio,  K.A.,  &  Hamell,  J.W.  (2009).  Severing  a  lifeline:  The  neglect  of  citizen  children  in     America’s  Immigration  policy.  Washington,  DC:  Urban  Institute.    (p.5)  8  Alaniz,  M.L.,  (2002)  Migration,  acculturation  displacement:  Migratory  workers,  and  “substance  abuse”.     Substance  Use  &  Misuse,  37,  123-­‐1257  9  Arbona,  C.,  Olvera,  N.,  Rodriguez,  N.,  Hgan,  J.,  Linares,  A.,  Wiesner,  M.  (2010).  Acculturative  stress  among     Documented  and  Undocumented  Latino  Immigrants  in  the  United  States.  Hispanic  Journal  of  Behavioral     Sciences.  10  Cuadra,  M.E.  (2009).  Anxiety  Current  Trends  –  Anxiety  and  PTSD  in  Latino  Children  of  Immigrants:  The  INS     Raid  Connection  to  the  Development  of  These  Disorders.    National  Association  of  Puerto  Rican  and     Hispanic  Social  Workers.  Available  at  http://www.helpstartshere.org/mindand-­‐spirit/anxiety/anxiety-­‐   current-­‐trends-­‐anxiety-­‐and-­‐ptsd-­‐in-­‐latinochildren-­‐of-­‐immigrants-­‐the-­‐ins-­‐raid-­‐connection-­‐to-­‐the-­‐   development-­‐of-­‐these-­‐disorders.html  11  Centers  for  Disease  Control  and  Prevention.  Welcome  to  WISQARS  (Web-­‐based  Injury  Statistics  Query  and     Reporting  System).  2006a.  12  Goldston,  D.  B.,  Davis  Molock,  S.,  Whitbeck,  L.  B.,  Murakami,  J.  L.,  Zayas,  L.  H.,  &  Nagayama  Hall,  G.  C.     (2008).  Cultural  considerations  in  adolescent  suicide  prevention  and  psychosocial  treatment.     American  Psychologist,  63,  14–31.  13  Kirkner,  R.  (2011,  October  7).  Trauma  Funding  Cuts  May  Jeopardize  Care  of  Immigrants.  ACEP  News.    14  Perez  Foster,  R.M.  (2001).  When  immigration  is  trauma:  Guidelines  for  the  individual  and  family     clinician.     American  Journal  of  Orthopsychiatry,  71,  153–170.  15  Vega,  W.A.,  Kolody,  B.,  Valle,  J.R.,  (1987).  Migration  and  mental  health:  An  empirical  test  of    depression  risk     factors  among  immigrant  Mexican  women,  Int  Migr  Rev:  21:  512-­‐530    

Department of Social Welfare Luskin School of Public Affairs

University of California, Los Angeles

References

• www.latinoshoy.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/illegal-­‐immigration-­‐debate-­‐hits-­‐postseceret-­‐com/  

• www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/dec/19/dream-­‐act-­‐dies-­‐in-­‐senate/  

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