Home Institution

Washington University in St. Louis

Publication Date

Fall 2019

Program Name

Switzerland: Global Health and Development Policy

Abstract

By definition, refugees are people forced to escape their home countries, often as a result of persecution, war, or disaster. While abundant literature exists on the psychological effects of trauma and corresponding psychological treatment during or immediately following crises, we know little about how post-migration factors affect refugees’ psychological well-being after resettlement. Few such longitudinal studies have been reported; moreover, evaluations of current long-term mental health and psychosocial services (MHPSS) and refugee access to MHPSS in host countries remain sparse. This study presents an evaluation of MHPSS services for refugees currently implemented around the world, with a focus on services in Switzerland. Based on personal interviews with Swiss psychiatrists, policymakers, and humanitarian field workers while drawing on framing literature, we examine the causes of and types of psychiatric disorders that refugees experience, as well as discuss existing programs aimed to alleviate post-traumatic stress symptoms. We find not only that refugees endure traumatizing stressors before and during migration, but also that asylum-seeking and integration practices may further exacerbate PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, we find that school-based interventions, migrant-specific mental health teams, and repeated exposure to cognitive-behavioral techniques are promising interventions to increase access to mental health services and provide sustainable care. Future mental health interventions must consider barriers to access, cultural differences, insurance-schemes, and politics during development and implementation.

Disciplines

Migration Studies | Multicultural Psychology | Peace and Conflict Studies | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychiatry and Psychology

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