Migrant Youth Perspectives on Trust and Cultural Responsiveness in Mental Health Services: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies

Migrant youth face converging challenges that place unique demands on their mental wellbeing. Mental health services can offer important support in navigating these challenges within host countries. Previous reviews have explored perspectives on the therapeutic alliance and barriers to care for migrant populations, but less is known about trust and cultural responsiveness, constructs particularly salient for this group. Additionally, most existing reviews have focused primarily on adult migrants, leaving limited understanding of migrant youth (aged 15-24). To address this gap, this review explored migrant youths’ perceptions and experiences of trust and cultural responsiveness in mental health services. A qualitative systematic review was conducted across multiple databases, resulting in ten studies that met inclusion criteria. Thematic synthesis generated six descriptive themes and two analytical themes, which illuminate how cultural responsiveness and trust are intertwined through acknowledgement and empathy, and illustrate the dynamic nature of both constructs. Findings suggest the importance of providers’ responses to the complex identities of migrant youth and their continual efforts toward connection and recognition. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of trust and cultural responsiveness in the therapeutic relationship with migrant youth and encourage further dialogue around mental health services for this often marginalized population.