COLUMBUS, OHIO, April 21, 2014 (Columbus Dispatch): Refugees resettled in the U.S. face cultural, language and religious barriers. They worry about the loved ones and friends they’ve left behind. There’s often a disconnect between their idyllic views of America and the difficulties they encounter finding good-paying jobs, especially in the recent economic downturn. “It’s not uncommon for them to be dealing with high levels of anxiety, stress and the lingering effects of trauma,” said Kelly Yotebieng, the wellness coordinator for Community Refugee & Immigration Services, or CRIS, in Columbus.
One group that has particularly struggled is the Bhutanese. More than 60,000 of Bhutan’s ethnic Nepalese have been resettled in the United States after being driven into exile by the country’s monarchy. Of the 1,285 refugees who were settled in Columbus last year, 444 were from the Asian nation of Bhutan.
To help address those issues, CRIS created a refugee-wellness program six months ago. New arrivals from any country are screened for symptoms of mental distress and referred to counseling when needed. The program also offers eight-week support groups to help refugees adjust to their new lives. Next month, CRIS will start offering yoga and music sessions as alternative ways to help clients deal with stress.