Institution versus Family home : A comparison of community establishment and utilization of mental health services among unaccompanied refugee adolescents placed in samll residential care and family homes

Sammanfattning: In this study I investigated the community establishment and utilization of mental health services among refugee adolescents who received resident permit in Sweden in 2010. I compared a group of 20 adolescents –boys and girls- mainly from Afghanistan and Somalia, living in small residential care by the Social service management in Stockholm – Socialförvaltningen (SF) - with a group of 10 adolescents from the same countries, living in family homes. The study showed clear differences in adolescents´ adaptation processes. Those who were living in small residential care by SF had a better chance to adapt quickly into their new society compared with the other group. The study showed that refugee adolescents from both groups underutilized mental health services.