Transcript SPECIAL POPULATIONS: REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS

SPECIAL POPULATIONS:
REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS
PSYC 377
Who is a refugee?
‘ Owing to a well founded fear of being persecuted for
reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a
particular social group or political opinion, is outside
the country of his nationality and is unable or owing to
such fear is unwilling to avail himself of the protection
of the country’ Article 1 of 1951 UN Convention
Mental health of refugees - evidence
Evidence comes from:
1. Epidemiological studies of mental illnesses
within refugee populations
2. Studies of aetiological factors in mental
illnesses, including post-migration
environment
3. Research into mental health service provision
4. Reserach on the socio-legal context of mental
health care
Mental health of refugees - issues
1.
2.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – disagreements regarding
PTSD and its consequences of over-emphasizing this topic
Impact of stressors (external events such as displacement and
resettlement) and stresses (subjective reactions to these events).
–
–
–
–
pre-flight (economic hardship, social disruption, political oppression
and physical violence)
Flight – ‘flight from one’s motherland represents a major life event is
likely to prompt emotional and cognitive turmoil . Refugees might be
subjected to sexual and economic exploitation
Post-migration bureaucratic procedures, living conditions,
discrimination, low social support leading to PTSD and depression
Resettlement – seeking asylum where they are granted refugee
status or recieve leave
Mental Health Services for Refugees
• Great variety – in countries which recieves small
numbers of asylum seekers the services are
integrated but in others very little planning
• Problems with services are :
– Lack of monitoring and evaluation
– A bottom-up unplanned approached resulting in
differences in service availability and quality
– Absence of consultation of service users
– Poor access to appropriate counselling services
– Presence of racial discrimination in some services
– Poor quantity of staff training
What is needed?
• Cultural sensitivity – development of mental
health services that are knowledge-based and
reflect the cultures of the refugee groups
• Integrated approach – Integration of mental
health and social care services
• Political Awareness – up to date awareness of
where and what the refugees are fleeing from
• Accessible Services – user friendly environments,
speaking appropriate community language
Organizations that help refugees
• UNHCR
• Red Cross and Red Cresecent
• WHO (Rapid Assessment Tool in 2001 report
titled Mental Health: New Understanding New
Hope)
Activity
Through UNCHR, Red Cross and Red Cresent sites:
1. summarize the most recent refugee crisis and
refugee situation
2. What are the current issues that could affect the
mental health of refugees
3. How would you go about finding what the
refugees need as a psychologist working with
refugees
4. Suggest mental health services you would offer
to refugees