Although mental health challenges in immigrant populations are well-recognized, data on mental disorders among United States (U.S.) immigration applicants remain scarce. To address this scarcity, we retrospectively analyzed health assessment data (2017–2024) from Chinese–American immigration applicants in Eastern China. We addressed a critical gap by providing the first large-scale data on the prevalence and characteristics of these applicants. Data were obtained from health assessments conducted at the Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center between 2017 and 2024. Applicants diagnosed with mental disorders were included. Analyzed variables encompassed gender, age, marital status, temporal trends in detection rates, and disorder distribution. Of 34,558 applicants (mean age 32.7 ± 11.2 years), 54 were diagnosed with mental disorders (prevalence: 1.56‰). No significant gender differences were observed (χ 2 = 0.53, P = .463). Marital status distribution indicated that 66.67% (n = 36) were married, and 33.33% (n = 18) were unmarried. Age-specific analysis revealed elevated rates in applicants aged ≤15, 15–30, and ≥75 years (χ 2 = 19.352, P = .002). Neurodevelopmental disorders were most common (39%), followed by schizophrenia spectrum disorders (15%), depressive disorders (13%), and neurocognitive disorders (11%). Bipolar disorders (7%), anxiety disorders (4%), and other conditions (7%) were less frequent. Temporal trends from 2017 to 2024 showed no significant change (Cochran–Armitage Z = −0.4004, P = .6889), with an increase from 2017 to 2021, followed by a decrease from 2021 to 2024. Findings reveal a distinct vulnerability in younger (≤30 years) and older (≥75 years) applicants and identify neurodevelopmental disorders as the most prevalent condition. These novel insights underscore the urgent need for and provide a foundation for implementing targeted, age-stratified mental health screening and early intervention protocols within the immigration health assessment process. This is crucial for improving the well-being of this understudied population and ensuring equitable access to care.
Ju et al. (Fri,) studied this question.