Bhutanese community leaders work to prevent suicide among refugees in New Hampshire
May 16, 2014
Since 2008, more than 2,000 Bhutanese refugees have settled in New Hampshire, after leaving refugee camps in Nepal where many had lived for years. The suicide rate is high among the nearly 85,000 Bhutanese refugees now living in the United States, and community leaders in New Hampshire are focused on helping families and individuals make a healthy adjustment to their new lives. The Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire (BCNH) is a refugee-founded group that helps people learn English, find work, and adapt to life in the United States, while also retaining connections to their Bhutanese heritage. Last fall, BCNH conducted a survey to find out what needs local Bhutanese people identified, and reviewed the results looking specifically for opportunities to reduce suicide risk. Following this outreach, the group held a training that featured experts from many local agencies to help local Bhutanese recognize the signs of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression.
Spark Extra! Find mental health and suicide prevention resources at the Refugee Health Technical Assistance Center.