Mental Health Problems in Separated Refugee Adolescents (original) (raw)
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Development of mental health problems - a follow-up study of unaccompanied refugee minors
Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, 2014
Studies have shown that unaccompanied refugee children have elevated symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and externalizing problems. Few studies have examined change in this group's mental health symptoms after resettlement in a new country, particularly for those who arrive to a host country when being under the age of 15. The sample included 75 unaccompanied refugee children (mean age 16.5 years, SD =1.6; 83% boys) who settled in Norway. We examined change in the number of stressful life events, symptoms of PTSD (Child PTSD Symptom Scale; CPSS), and symptoms of anxiety, depression and externalizing problems (Hopkins Symptom Checklist; HSCL-37A) from 6 months after arrival (T1) to 1.9 years (SD =0.6) later (T2) using paired samples t-tests. Linear regression models were used to examine whether length of stay, level of education or change in the number of experienced stressful life events predicted symptom change. There was a small and non-sig...
Background: Half of the world's refugees comprise children and adolescents. Confronting conflicts and difficulties before, during, and after migration and seeking asylum affect their mental health. The present study aimed at investigating the challenges of mental health of migrant and refugee adolescents and children. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was conducted in the second half of 2016 using PubMed, Scopus, Magiran, SID, and Google Scholar databases. From the 2014 studies initially selected, 20 articles that specifically attended to examining the mental health of migrant and refugee adolescents and children were finally extracted. Results: According to previous studies, the refugee adolescents and children encounter much harm. In addition to psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-trauma stress disorder and psychosomatic pains, this group of refugees also suffers from a decline in flexibility and behavioral and cognitive functions. These conditions have been reported more often in refugee adolescents and children who have been separated from their parents or left far away from them. Conclusion: Before a crisis occurs, policymakers and planners should formulate and implement educational programs along with the participation of parents and teachers in order for children to cope with conditions of disasters, and in order to promote the culture of resilience. The health system, while developing special care programs must prioritize the training of its employees in order to provide services. Most studies have attended to the incidence of symptoms of refugees' psychological disorders, while it seems necessary to conduct intervention studies with the aim of identifying elements of risk and ways to resolve these elements.
Mental health issues of child refugees and migrants
Oxford Textbook of Migrant Psychiatry
Increasing global numbers of voluntary and forced migrating children under 18 years of age represent the majority subpopulation among refugees and migrants. With arrival in high-income countries, most children achieve positive secure growth. Pre- and post-migratory experiences, developmental issues, familial, and sociocultural contexts contribute to mental health risk evaluation along with additional child challenges related to mastery of attachment disruptions, acculturation, educational adjustments, resilience capacities, mental health distress, or emerging disorders. Theories of positive post-traumatic growth generated by adversity, as well as current models of child cultural formulation evaluation and preventive intervention strategies, emphasize resilience promotion, cultural safety, and trauma transformation, implicating sociocultural, familial, legal, educational, and collective agendas. Mental health interventions are best approached within contextual, systemic, and advocacy...
Exploring Mental Health Status and Syndrome Patterns Among Young Refugee Children in Germany
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Refugee children share a large number of pre-, peri-, and post-migration risk factors, which make them vulnerable for developing mental health concerns. Within the last few years, a large number of families with young children have sought refuge in Germany. However, children's mental health status in Germany is mostly unclear. A central aim of developmental psychopathology is to understand how risk factors lead to the emergence of mental health concerns. One approach to investigating this association is the study of specificity, which describes the idea that specific risk factors are related to specific psychological outcomes. The aim of our study was to assess the mental health status of young refugee children in Germany, and to explore a potential refugee-specific mental health pattern. In two studies, we assessed mental health outcomes of 93 children from Syria or Iraq, aged 1.5-5 years, who recently arrived in Germany. The results were compared to U.S. norm data of typically developing children, and to norm data of a clinical sample in order to explore mental health patterns. In the first study (n = 35), we used standardized screening tools for parents (CBCL 1.5-5). In the second study (n = 58), mental health states of refugee children were assessed by caretakers (CTRF 1.5-5). In comparison to U.S. norm data of normally developing children, refugee parents reported more mental health concerns for their children, especially on syndrome scales of internalizing difficulties. A comparison to U.S. clinical reference data showed a specific mental health pattern, characterized by increased levels of anxiety/depression, attention problems, and withdrawal behavior. Caretakers, too, reported more mental health problems compared to typically developing children, albeit to a smaller extent. However, a comparison to clinically-referred children only led to partial confirmation of a specific mental health pattern. Our studies offer important insights into the mental health status and pattern of young refugee children, which is essential for preventing the onset of psychopathology and for offering tailored interventions.
Review of Child and Adolescent Refugee Mental Health
Journal of The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2004
Objective: To review stressful experiences and stress reactions among child and adolescent refugees, as well as interventions and ethical considerations in research and clinical work, within the framework of the chronological experiences of child refugees; namely, the phases of preflight, flight, and resettlement. Highlighted are special refugee populations such as unaccompanied minors, asylum seekers, and former child soldiers. Pertinent medical findings are summarized. Method: The authors reviewed articles from 1990 to 2003 addressing the topics above. Literature was gathered from databases including PsycINFO, Medline, and SocioFile. Pertinent earlier papers and those from other disciplines cited in database-identified articles were also included. Results: Child and adolescent refugees suffer from significant conflict-related exposures. Reactions to stress may be mediated by coping strategies, belief systems, and social relations. Conclusions: More research is needed on interventions, specifically on efficacy and cultural relevance.
Heir, T. & Derluyn, I. (2014). The mental health of unaccompanied refugee minors on arrival in the host country. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 55, 33–37. Despite increasing numbers of unaccompanied refugee minors (UM) in Europe and heightened concerns for this group, research on their mental health has seldom included the factor " time since arrival. " As a result, our knowledge of the mental health statuses of UM at specific points in time and over periods in their resettlement trajectories in European host countries is limited. This study therefore examined the mental health of UM shortly after their arrival in Norway (n = 204) and Belgium (n = 103) through the use of self-report questionnaires (HSCL-37A, SLE, RATS, HTQ). High prevalence scores of anxiety, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were found. In addition, particular associations were found with the number of traumatic events the UM reported. The results indicate that all UM have high support needs on arrival in the host country. Longitudinal studies following up patterns of continuity and change in their mental health during their trajectories in the host country are necessary.
Prevalence of psychiatric symptoms among refugee adolescents in Turkey: a controlled study
Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, 2021
Objective: To investigate prevalence of internalized and externalized psychological symptoms and war-related adverse events among a representative secondary-school sample of Syrian refugee adolescents, and to compare levels of depression, anxiety, and stress between Syrian refugee adolescents and Turkish adolescents. Methods: Syrian refugee adolescents (n=70) and Turkish adolescents (n=70) were asked to complete the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-42) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results: DASS and SDQ scores were significantly different between the two groups; scores in all problem areas were higher in refugees. Loss of a family member increased depression, stress, and total difficulty scored, whereas witnessing death increased anxiety and stress and experiencing multiple events increased depression, anxiety, and total difficulty scores. Maternal years of schooling correlated inversely with SDQ emotional symptoms, conduct problems, and hyperactivity/inattention problem scores. Both parents' years of schooling correlated inversely with SDQ total difficulties scores. Conclusion: Syrian refugee adolescents had higher depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, peer relationship problems, and general difficulties than their Turkish peers. Facilitating refugees' access to mental health services, educating their parents, consulting, and monitoring at-risk children may contribute to reducing psychosocial problems in refugee children.
THE IMPACT OF WAR-TRAUMA ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF REFUGEE CHILDREN
University of Debrecen, 2019
The acts of war and violence are increasingly prevalent in contemporary society. Within the last decade, the use of weapons has become more efficient and powerful resulting in devastation and loss of human life. Globally, people in affected regions usually exhibit residual effects, these effects however tend to be more pronounced in children and young adults. This paper presents concrete research on the effects of war-trauma, migration-trauma and, parental (family) distress of refugee children (RC) with the aim of understanding the deviant behavior of refugee children in reported trauma cases reviewed. This paper established the impact of war-trauma on refugee children. Children with prolonged exposure to war or violence related events stand a higher risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which could result in violent behavior throughout their life time if proper intervention is not administered. Aggravated mental stress disorder could also be experienced due to migration trauma as the RC traverse several regions enroute their new environments; which in turn leads to family distress as separation occurs as well as acculturation issues.
Mental Health Outcomes of Unaccompanied Refugee Minors: a Rapid Review of Recent Research
Current Psychiatry Reports, 2021
To examine mental health outcomes of unaccompanied refugee minors during global policy shift. Additionally, to consider mental health service delivery and placement type for this group. A rapid systematic search of research published since 2018 which related to mental health outcomes of unaccompanied refugee minors. Data extracted, risk of bias assessed and outcomes reviewed qualitatively. We found 181 papers, of which 14 met inclusion criteria. This review found consistently high levels of PTSD and PTSS among URMs in various contexts. Exposure to trauma, being unaccompanied (compared to accompanied), being female and being older are associated with poor outcomes. Depression and anxiety were consistently high among URMs and associated with discrimination, limited language attainment and daily hassles. High rates of mental illness and symptoms among unaccompanied refugee minors were consistent across national and settlement contexts but the quality of the evidence is variable with si...