Health Issues Of Refugees

702 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Mental health concerns in refugees

1. Introduction
This essay will start with a discussion of various terms utilised throughout the paper, it will then discuss factors that contribute to the mental health problems of the refugees in an chronological order, from pre-emigration, to emigration and experiencing the hardships of living in the host country. It will conclude with a discussion of treatment options and challenges of treatment of metal health issues facing refugee and offering solutions that can contribute to attainment of good metal health wellbeing of refugees.

Terminology
The terms of interest in this essay are refugees, asylum seekers and Internally Displaced People. Refugee is defined as a person who is outside their home country and are seeking asylum due to a
IDPs outnumber refugees, however it is hard to be exact about the number of IDPs around the globe as their movements are often not tracked and they do not self
They face violence, these include general conflict as well specific and targeted acts of violence such as torture and rape as well indirect or threat of violence. They also face immense discrimination such as unequal access to basic services, degrading treatment and acute poverty. Once in a safe host country, the refugee faces a new category of challenges that can impact his mental health. These can include dealing with cultural differences, loss of social status and dealing with the uncertainly of life. These experiences leave their marks on the psyche of the people that are seeking asylum. PTSD, anxiety, depression and other psychological disorders are therefore rife among refugee populations when compared to non-refugee populations. For example, studies into Caribbean refugee communities show higher rates of psychological issues and mental disorders in parts of the USA (Kirmayer 2010). Refugees, due to their unique circumstances require unique treatment and often the regular mental health services cannot provide this. Therefore, there is a need to better understand and then treat the mental health problems of refugee populations both in the developing and the developed

Show More
Related

  • Persuasive Speech On Refugees In Australia

    1124 Words  | 3 Pages

    A Refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their country because of the war or the

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Outcasts United

    1097 Words  | 3 Pages

    My essay focuses on discrimination as one of the main challenges that refugees face. I discuss some instances of discrimination that occurred in the book, whether based on race or culture,

    Read More

  • The Mental Health Effects of Maquiladora Work on Mexican Women

    2805 Words  | 6 Pages

    Migration has been found to have negative effects on mental health because of circumstances surrounding the move, circumstances of the actual passage, trouble adapting to the new culture, breaks in the migrant’s support system of friends and family, and disappointed expectations of social and economic acquisition.

    Read More

  • An Ethnographical Analysis of Haiti and Current Medical Practice

    898 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mental health is often related to the supernatural forces. The problem in mental health that stems from various social causes like unde...

    Read More

  • Asylum Seekers Case Study

    1244 Words  | 3 Pages

    Refugee is someone who fled his/her country because of conflict or for fear of been prosecuted for reason of race, nationality, religion, sexuality, and political opinion (UNHCR, 1 February, 2002). An asylum seeker is someone who fled his/her country of origin and applies for recognition as a refugee in another country, and

    Read More

  • Refugees In Australia Essay

    848 Words  | 2 Pages

    They have been found to have detrimental psychological effects, as they leave refugees in a state of limbo, fearing their imminent forced return, where they are unable to integrate into society. This emotional distress is often compounded by the fact that refugees on TPVs in Australia are not able to apply for family reunification nor are they able to leave the country. Family reunification is a well-established right in Sweden, as well as most western countries. Moreover, it is a human right protected under the ICCPR whereby refugees have the right to family (Article 23) and the right to freedom from arbitrary interference with family life (Article 17). As a result of living in a state of uncertainty and heartache caused by family separation, refugees on TPVs face a “700 percent increased risk of developing depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in comparison with PPV (permanent protection visa) refugees (Mansouri et al. 2009, pp. 145). Denial of family reunification under TPVs is likely to cause more asylum seekers to engage in illegal means to arrive in

    Read More

  • Refugee Quotes

    1133 Words  | 3 Pages

    The life of a refugee is not just a life of trials and ordeals, but also has rewards for those who pushed through the pain.

    Read More

  • Asylum Seekers Essay

    924 Words  | 2 Pages

    There should therefore be emphasis placed on assessing the mental health of these kids because of the adverse experiences in their home countries and the distress experienced in an alien country or culture in which they find themselves. Weaver and Burns (2001) thus argue that social workers need a greater understanding of the impact of trauma to be effective with asylum seekers in general and UASC. However, many people who are exposed to traumatic experiences do not necessarily develop mental issues so social workers should be cautious about making assumptions as studies shows that most asylum seekers point to social and economic factors as important rather than psychological

    Read More

  • Impact On Immigration

    949 Words  | 2 Pages

    These issues also include poverty and limited or no access to education, training, mental health and health care resources. Refugees also face persecution and are unable to return to their home in their native country (Villalba, 2009). Mental health counselors need to understand the impact of trauma on their refugee clientele, as they may include physical torture and mental abuse in nature. According to Sue and Sue (2013) counselors will need to address the most salient concerns of refugees, which include safety and loss. The possibility of being, or having been, mentally abused and physically tortured has an impact on their ability to stay in the hosting country. Counselors will be dealing with post-traumatic stress from their client. Equally important is for the counselor to assist the refugee in understanding issues of confidentiality. For Muslim immigrants and refugees, counselors should consider national policies during the counseling process. For example, the two Sudanese sisters’ were able to resolve their religious practice of wearing the hijab and securing employment in a beneficial way. As an advocate for the sisters and other Muslim refugees, it would be helpful to provide them access to resources that educate them in antidiscrimination policies that can protect them against hate crimes and legal resources that can help them seek asylum. In essence, culturally competent practices for counselors working with immigrants and refugees begin with understanding their worldviews, as well the national and international legal issues that confront their

    Read More

  • Social Determinants of Interpersonal Violence and Health

    1826 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...increased homelessness, poverty, overcrowding, disruption in family structures and loss of social support, all of which are risk factors for mental disorders. Rising numbers of people all over the world are exposed to armed conflicts, wars and disasters, leading to migration, displacement, homelessness and poverty. People exposed to violence are more likely than others to suffer from mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, possibly leading to drug and alcohol abuse and increased rates of suicide.

    Read More

  • Immigrants Access To Mental Health Essay

    629 Words  | 2 Pages

    Health promotion strategies and stigma issues can also be addressed in a culturally competent way. Since mental health services may be unknown to immigrants, there needs to be clarification about what the services are and how they can improve an individual’s health (Kirmayer et al., n.d., as cited in Thomson et al., 2015). Socioeconomic issues can also accompany immigration and lead to added stress on new residents. There is a need for mental

    Read More

  • Health: The Connection Between Poverty And Mental Health

    748 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mental health is a broad subject that touches on the psychological, emotional and social well-being of a person and how it affects the way they feel, think or act. Mental health is a fundamental element in the handling of stress, making choices, as well as creating and managing social relationships. Comprehensive understanding of the mental health will be useful in improving healthcare for persons living with mental health problems. According to World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 550 million people globally who live with mental and behavioural disorders which fall under the mental health subject (Kessler, 2010). Scientists and psychologists have realized the possibility of a correlation between poverty and mental health. It is

    Read More

  • Refugees In Jordan Essay

    810 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Jordanian government and NGOs have an uphill task of providing for the various waves of refugees that have settled in the kingdom. Refugee communities reside both in designated refugee camps and host communities, each having their own set of challenges. It is important that NGOs and the government engages communities by their vulnerability. Vulnerability depends greatly on the racial background and the arrival time of the migrant with African refugees being the most vulnerable. Moreover, the responsibility of the care and protection of refugees also follow on the international community and not just on host countries like Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon.

    Read More

  • The Syrian Refugee Crisis

    1420 Words  | 3 Pages

    A refugee is defined as an individual who has been forced to leave their country due to political or religious reasons, or due to threat of war or violence. There were 19.5 million refugees worldwide at the end of 2014, 14.4 million under the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), around 2.9 million more than in 2013. The other 5.1 million Palestinian refugees are registered with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). With the displacement of so many people, it is difficult to find countries willing to accept all the refugees. There are over 125 different countries that currently host refugees, and with this commitment comes the responsibility of ensuring these refugees have access to the basic requirements of life; a place to live, food to eat, and a form of employment or access to education. Currently, the largest cause of refugees is the Syrian civil war, which has displaced over 2.1 million people. As a country of relative wealth, the United States should be able to provide refuge for many refugees, as well as provide monetary support to the refugees that they are not able to receive.

    Read More

  • Forced Migration Essay

    1181 Words  | 3 Pages

    Furthermore, with forced migration you will see global health issues increase. Refugees typically suffer from the same kind of health problems as the rest of the population, such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular injuries, gastrointestinal injuries. During the process of migration diseases are prevalent due to close proximity of individuals, and poor hygiene conditions. In many countries that are in distress they are at higher risk of developing communicable diseases. Refugees are at high risk of developing tuberculosis depending on if they already have a high prevalence of TB

    Read More

More about Health Issues Of Refugees

Open Document