Various factors can affect an unaccompanied child’s mental health:

• traumatic experiences
• personal losses related to separation from their loved ones in their home countries
• migration and the adjustment of adapting to a new caregiver, home environment, school, and community 
• stresses of daily living related to school, family, and social relationships

These situations can lead to adjustment difficulties and symptoms of depression or anxiety, among other challenges.

The links below provide general information on mental health warning signs and symptoms, and when to seek additional help for a youth.

• Warning Signs and Symptoms of a Mental Health Condition (NAMI)
• Youth Mental Health (Mental Health America)
• Symptom Checker (Child Mind Institute)
• Every Day is Mind Day: Mental Health Toolkit for Young People (UNICEF)

It is also important to consider the mental health of providers. The following link provides helpful information about how an environment can impact your mental health and how to improve mental well-being.

• 2023 Mental Health Month Toolkit (Mental Health America)

Most unaccompanied children have experienced some type of trauma in their lives pre-, during, and/or post-migration. These resources from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) provide more information on the unique traumas experienced by UCs, and help providers increase their understanding in order to better support unaccompanied children:

• About Child Trauma 
• What Is Complex Trauma?
• Trauma and Unaccompanied Migrant Children 
• Refugee Trauma  
• Childhood Traumatic Separation – Information for Professionals
• Traumatic Separation and Refugee & Immigrant Children – Key Points and Tips for Caregivers

Other resources:

• Adverse Childhood Experiences (CDC)
• What are ACEs? And How Do They Relate to Toxic Stress? (Harvard)
• Immigration Enforcement and the Mental Health of Latino High School Students (MPI)

There are various risk factors that may lead a youth to have suicidal thoughts or to harm themselves. Some include: depression, trauma, difficulty coping with intense emotions, stress and challenges at home and school, bullying, and feeling alone, misunderstood and like they don’t belong.

A threat of suicide or self-harm should always be taken seriously. The resources below provide information on assessing suicide risk and helping youth in crisis:

• What to Do If You Think a Person Is Having Suicidal Thoughts (SAMHSA)
• Suicidal Ideation Risk Assessment (Minnesota Department of Health)
• Suicide Risk Assessment (USCRI)
• Suicide Assessments (American Counseling Association)
• Suicide Prevention Safety Plan Template – English and Spanish (USCRI)
• Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (Counseling Today)

The following resources provide additional guidance, training, and information for providers looking to learn more about mental health and unaccompanied children:

• Trauma-Informed Care: Understanding and Addressing the Needs of Unaccompanied Children (NCTSN 4-part training series)
• Stress & Trauma Toolkit for Treating Undocumented Immigrants in a Changing Political and Social Environment (APA)
• Spanish Clinical Language and Resource Guide (Washburn Center)

Our UC Resource Center offers videos and handouts in Spanish for families on the topic of Mental Health. Click the link to browse the resources and share them with your Spanish-speaking clients!

• Salud Mental

Other resources:

• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988 (SAMHSA)
• Jóvenes en Crisis hotline: 1-800-448-3000 (Boys Town)