Background: Decades of war and political instability have forced millions of Afghans to flee from their homes, resulting in one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. Many refugees have resettled in North America, particularly in Canada and the United States, where they have encountered numerous psychosocial and systemic barriers to adapting to their new environment. Objective: This scoping review aims to explore the settlement experiences of Afghan refugees in North America, synthesize existing evidence on integration challenges, and identify key gaps in the literature. Methods: Following Arksey and O’Malley's methodological framework, six electronic databases were searched for relevant literature published between 2014 and 2024, which focused on Afghan refugee settlement experiences in the North American context. Seventeen eligible studies were included in the final review. Results: Mental health emerged as the most studied topic, with Afghan refugees experiencing moderate to high rates of psychological distress, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Key risk factors included female gender, older age, pre-migration trauma, financial constraints, and social isolation. Protective factors, such as, strong social support networks, English language proficiency, and gainful employment were associated with improved mental health outcomes. In spite of the generally positive healthcare experiences, Afghan refugees encountered language barriers, limited health literacy, transportation difficulties, and cultural misunderstandings with healthcare providers. Conclusion: Afghan refugees in North America face complex and intersecting barriers to health and healthcare access, and integration. Current literature by and large focuses on mental health, and there is an urgent need to expand research in other important areas of post-migration and (re)settlement.

Objective: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects one in 50 children in Canada and one in 31 children in the United States. This scoping review aimed to identify barriers immigrant families encounter when accessing ASD services. Method: Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute framework, databases including CINAHL, Nursing & Allied Health Premium, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar were searched for peer-reviewed studies published within the past 10 years. A total of 12 studies examining immigrant parents’ experiences accessing ASD services through health or education systems were included. Results: Immigrant families reported barriers across cultural, systemic, and structural domains. Several studies also identified facilitators, such as bilingual providers and community-based support networks, which improved service access and trust. Conclusion: Findings indicate that immigrant families experience multiple, overlapping barriers that delay diagnosis and intervention. Addressing culturally responsive care, interpreter access, and service coordination is essential to improving equitable access to ASD services in Canada and the United States.

Global forced displacement has reached unprecedented levels, with more than 123 million people uprooted by the end of 2024. Although older adults represent a growing proportion of refugee populations, their mental health needs remain overlooked. This scoping review synthesized current evidence on depression among older adult refugees aged 50 years and older. Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported using PRISMA-ScR standards, searches were conducted in CINAHL, PsycINFO, AgeLine, and Medline for English-language publications from 2015 to 2025. A total of 1971 records were identified, with nine studies (N = 1370 participants) meeting eligibility criteria. Most studies employed cross-sectional designs and were conducted in high-income countries. Depression prevalence was consistently elevated, with rates ranging from 22% to over 70%, depending on population and measurement tools. Risk factors included female sex, widowhood, low socioeconomic status, chronic illness, functional impairment, trauma exposure, language barriers, social isolation, and limited access to care. Protective influences such as family support, higher socioeconomic status, and improved living conditions were identified but inconsistently reported. Findings indicate that older refugees are at high risk of depression, often shaped by intersecting aging- and displacement-related vulnerabilities. Findings highlight the need for culturally specific tools and longitudinal research to inform culturally safe care for older refugees.