There are around 100 million refugees and asylum seekers globally. Around 33 million of these refugees experience severe depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorders. Once people are forcibly displaced, they often face a multitude of stressors including poverty, unemployment, poor medical service access, isolation, and legal issues. They are also susceptible to discrimination, facing severe racism and exclusion, social isolation, and the threat of deportation. Hate crimes, additionally, are prevalent. Amidst this, refugee children who have been separated from their families have a heightened risk of mental health issues previously stated. Yet, according to a report made by the American Psychiatric Association, only 3% of refugees are referred to mental health services.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) strives to integrate Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), advocating for refugees to receive adequate mental health support. Through MHPSS, a five-step solution was initiated calling for health improvements, community-based protection, child protection, gender-based violence prevention, and education improvements. The UNHCR has worked to fund psychiatrists to provide refugees with some relief to their mental health and has worked to establish refugee support groups geared toward refugees suffering from severe mental health conditions. During the first half of 2022, UNHCR was able to provide psychosocial and mental health support to more than 472,000 refugees and asylum-seekers.
The Hebrew Immigration Aid Society (HIAS) has been working with Chad to protect all refugees. HIAS Chad has been focusing on strengthening protection and providing mental health and psychosocial support to refugees. The HIAS mental health program provides psychosocial services to individuals and communities, Yet, mental health and psychosocial support access must be improved.
Works Cited
Song, Suzan, and Sara Teichholtz. “Mental Health Facts on Refugees, Asylum-Seekers, & Survivors of Forced Displacement.” American Psychiatric Association, https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/diversity/education/mental-health-facts.
“Refugee Crisis: 100 Million Displaced.” Rescue, https://www.rescue.org/topic/refugee-crisis-100-million-displaced.
“Mental Health and Forced Displacement.” World Health Organization, 31 Aug. 2021, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-and-forced-displacement.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, “Mental Health and Psychosocial Support.” UNHCR, https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/mental-health-psychosocial-support
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, “Refugees need better mental health support amid rising displacement.” UNHCR, 14 Oct. 2022, https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/news/press/2022/10/634980ca4/refugees-need-better-mental-health-support-amid-rising-displacement.html
Project Update, “The fear that follows them. Providing mental healthcare for refugees.” Médecins Sans Frontières, 27 Aug. 2015, https://www.msf.org/chad-fear-follows-them-providing-mental-healthcare-refugees
Hebrew Immigrate Aid Society, “HIAS in Chad.” HIAS, 2022, https://www.hias.org/where/chad
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