Examining factors influencing forcibly displaced children and youth’s access to mental health support: An overview of reviews

Millions of children and youth are forcibly displaced due to conflict and socio-economic hardship. Refugee minors face heightened mental health risks yet consistently underutilize services. This disparity reflects a complex interaction of individual, developmental, systemic, and societal barriers. This review synthesizes evidence on factors affecting refugee children’s and youths’ access to mental health care to inform policy and practice. Methods: An overview of reviews was conducted with a narrative synthesis of eligible studies. Findings were organized using Levesque et al.’s (2013) five-stage access model: perceiving needs, seeking care, reaching services, using services, and achieving outcomes. Barriers were examined at each stage, considering both servicerelated and population-level factors. Results: Barriers emerged at every stage. Services often lacked cultural and linguistic sensitivity, early screening, and flexible delivery, while systems were fragmented and unaffordable. Interventions rarely addressed the specific needs of refugee minors or promoted sustained engagement. Refugee children and youth faced low mental health literacy, stigma, limited autonomy, legal insecurity, unstable housing, and weak family or community support. Unaccompanied minors and those in detention were especially vulnerable. Gender-specific constraints—such as restricted mobility, caregiving burdens, and exposure to gender-based violence—further limited refugee girls’ access. Conclusions: Equitable access requires integrated, culturally responsive, and traumainformed reforms across all stages of care. Key priorities include stigma reduction, expanded community-based services, low-threshold care, and family-inclusive models. Sustained policy commitment and cross-sector collaboration are essential to support this vulnerable population.