Responding together: Multicultural young people and their mental health
Young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds in Australia have a wide range of personal experiences.
Young people can face multiple challenges associated with settling in a new country and those with a refugee background may have particular stressors associated with their experience.
Most young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds are incredibly resilient and generally cope well despite the challenges of their refugee, settlement and migration experiences.
Experiences of racism, discrimination and the challenges of navigating a multicultural identity, however, can negatively impact on young people’s wellbeing. A sense of inclusion and belonging is critical to the mental health of young people.
This policy paper is a collaboration between Orygen and CMY, and outlines policy solutions to improve mental health outcomes for refugee and migrant young people.