PTSD In Newcomers

Research Project

PTSD In Newcomers

This research project focused on the incidence of PTSD in the rural Southern Alberta immigrant population in Brooks and Newell County.

Diversity

Identify and decrease access barriers to mental health and wellness services for newcomers to the Brooks, Newell County, and Medicine Hat regions in southeast Alberta.

Prevalence

Assessing the prevalence, and severity, of PTSD among the immigrants/refugees in rural southern Alberta

Experience

Identifying the types of stressful experiences that may have contributed to the experience of PTSD by those immigrants/refugees

The How

Measures

This research project focused on the incidence of PTSD in the rural Southern Alberta immigrant population in Brooks and Newell County.

  • Gender

  • Age

  • Marital status

  • Language

  • Immigration Status

  • Refugee Status

  • Measures presence of PTSD symptoms outlined in the DSM-5

  • 20 questions; rated on 4 point Likert scale, increasing in severity

  • A score of 33+ indicates presence of PTSD symptoms (max score is 60)

  • Given alongside the PCL-5

  • Assesses frequency of exposure to traumatic events

  • E.g., natural disaster, assault, accidents, combat, etc.

  • Assess issues frequently experienced when integrating into a new culture

  • 7 questions; rated in severity from 0-2points

  • Rating of 7+ indicates presence of culture shock (Max Score 14)

What we found

The Results

25 countries represented.

PTSD incidence highest among those from: Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria

0
Refugees
0
PTSD Cases
0
Culture Shock Cases
63%
of sample collected display PTSD symptoms
60%
of sample collected are Refugees
53%
of sample collected display symptoms of Culture Shock
37%
of the City of Brooks population represents a visible minority

This project was done in partnership with: