A phenomenological study of the resettlement experiences and mental health needs of Somali Bantu refugee women

The global refugee crisis, propelled by wars and natural disasters, is producing a massive demographic shift around the world. Counseling professionals are challenged to expand their understanding and knowledge of clients of diverse cultures who are new to the United States (U.S.). A resettlement of 12,000 Somali Bantu refugees to the U.S. brought over 250 Somali Bantu refugees to San Antonio, Texas in 2004. A review of literature revealed that there is a sparseness of research devoted to the Somali Bantu and to the effect of long-term residence in refugee camps on the mental health of the displaced. This qualitative study of the phenomenological tradition examined the resettlement experiences of nine Somali Bantu refugee women and the effect of those experiences on their daily lives. These women have spent at least 12 years in a Kenyan refugee camp awaiting resettlement after fleeing the 1991 civil war in Somalia. The women's narratives provided vivid descriptions and rich data, demonstrating daily challenges and mental health needs that warrant the attention of counseling professionals