scholarly journals Social participation, mental health in refugees and asylum seekers: A scoping review

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (suppl_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
H Manhica ◽  
M Niemi ◽  
D Gunnarsson ◽  
G Ståhle ◽  
S Larsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers

scholarly journals A Scoping Review and Conceptual Model of Social Participation and Mental Health among Refugees and Asylum Seekers

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (20) ◽  
pp. 4027 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Niemi ◽  
Hélio Manhica ◽  
David Gunnarsson ◽  
Göran Ståhle ◽  
Sofia Larsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers

Social participation plays a key role in the integration of refugees and asylum seekers into their host societies, and is also closely tied to the mental health of those populations. The aim of this scoping review was to study how the concept of social participation is described in empirical research, and how it is associated with mental health outcomes. Methods: In total, 64 studies were identified through searches in PubMed, PsycInfo, and Sociological Abstracts. These studies describe various forms of social participation among refugees and asylum seekers, and 33 of them also addressed various forms of mental health outcomes. Results: The identified studies described forms and conditions of social participation—both in the host country and transnationally—that could be synthesized into three broad dimensions: (1) Regulatory frameworks, conditions and initiatives; (2) Established societal organizations and social structures; and (3) Community organized groups. Each of these consisted of several sub-domains. The identified dimensions of social participation were also associated with psychosocial well-being and decreased psychological distress. Conclusions: There is a need for policies to enable and support the participation of refugees and asylum seekers in various dimensions of social structures in host societies. Social participation enhances resilience, re-establishes social lives, and acts as a protective factor against poor mental health outcomes.

Overcoming the deficiency of refugee mental health research

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Kalfic ◽  
Glenn Mitchell ◽  
Lezanne Ooi ◽  
Sibylle Schwab ◽  
Natalie Matosin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Scientific Discovery ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Psychiatric Research ◽  
Risk And Resilience ◽  
Refugee Mental Health ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers

The growing number of refugees and asylum seekers are one of the most significant global challenges of this generation. We are currently witnessing the highest level of displacement in history, with over 65 million displaced people in the world. Refugees and asylum seekers are at higher risk to develop mental illness due to their trauma and chronic stress exposures, and particularly post-migration stressors. Yet global and Australian psychiatric research in this area is greatly lacking, particularly with respect to our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of risk and resilience to mental illness in traumatised populations. In this Viewpoint, we explore the reasons behind the lack of refugee mental health research and use this context to propose new ways forward. We believe that scientific discovery performed with a multidisciplinary approach will provide the broad evidence-base required to improve refugee mental health. This will also allow us to work towards the removal of damaging policies that prolong and potentiate mental health deterioration among refugees and asylum seekers, which impacts not only on the individuals but also host countries’ social, economic and healthcare systems.

scholarly journals Oral health problems facing refugees in Europe: a scoping review

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eiad Zinah ◽  
Heba M. Al-Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Critical Appraisal ◽  
Oral Health Care ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers

Abstract Introduction Europe has been experiencing a flow of refugees and asylum seekers driven by conflicts or poverty. Their oral health is often neglected despite its clear impact on quality of life. Objective To explore the status of oral health among refugees and asylum seekers groups by examining the available literature and to determine which evidence exists regarding the problems they face in terms of oral health. Methods The current paper followed PRISMA guidelines. A scoping review methodology was followed to retrieve 2911 records from five databases and grey literature. Twelve articles met the following inclusion criteria: experimental research concentrated on the oral and dental health of refugees and/or asylum seekers between 1995 and 2020 in English. Analysis was both descriptive and thematic, whilst a critical appraisal was applied using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP). Results Seven studies (58,3%) were quantitative, while five studies (41,6%) were qualitative. In general, the quality of most of the studies (83.3%) was good. Limited access to oral health care services was shown with a higher prevalence of oral diseases compared to the native populations of the host countries. Approaches to improve oral health have been implemented in some studies and have shown positive outcomes. Conclusions Oral health care strategies should consider the oral health problems facing refugees in Europe, and oral health promotion campaigns are essential to give adequate guidance on how to access oral health care in the host countries.

Mental Health in Refugees and Asylum Seekers

2021 ◽  
pp. 237-246
Author(s):  
Meryam Schouler-Ocak ◽  
Marianne C. Kastrup
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers

Refugee and asylum seekers’ experiences

2021 ◽  
pp. 281-290
Author(s):  
Rachel Tribe ◽  
Angelina Jalonen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Service Users ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees

This chapter reviews the socio-political environment and legal factors that provide the context and influence the lived experience of many refugees and asylum seekers. These factors are considered in relation to flight, arrival, and settlement in a new country. How these contextual factors may impact upon refugees and asylum seekers, their sense of identity, and mental health will be reviewed. The chapter reflects upon the possible challenges faced by many refugees and asylum seekers, as well as arguing that the strengths, resilience, and coping strategies that many asylum seekers and refugees exhibit need to be adequately considered by clinicians, if a meaningful service is to be provided. The importance of clinicians being culturally curious and listening to service users’ meaning-making is vital. An overview of some other issues that clinicians may need to consider is provided. The chapter contains a number of case studies to illustrate the related issues.

scholarly journals Meeting the mental health needs of refugees and asylum seekers

2014 ◽  
Vol 204 (3) ◽  
pp. 176-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panos Vostanis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
The Other ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Service Models ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers

SummaryMental health provision for diverse refugee populations is faced with a number of challenges, and requires the development and evaluation of flexible service models that maximise capacity and utilise existing non-specialist resources. Emerging therapeutic approaches should be applied in real settings, adapted to cultural needs and integrated with the other agencies involved.

scholarly journals Protocol of a feasibility trial for an online group parenting intervention with an integrated mental health component for parent refugees and asylum-seekers in the United Kingdom: (LTP + EMDR G-TEP)

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 205031212110678
Author(s):  
Safa Kemal Kaptan ◽  
Filippo Varese ◽  
Betul Yilmaz ◽  
Panoraia Andriopoulou ◽  
Nusrat Husain
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Asylum Seeker ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Parenting Intervention ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Parental Mental Health ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Poor Growth ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers

Objectives: Conflicts expose families to a range of factors that could have a negative impact upon parental mental health which in turn leads to poor growth and development of children. Early support can improve parental mental health and parenting behaviours but currently, there is a lack of evidence on parenting interventions for forcibly displaced populations. This study aims to deliver an online parenting intervention with a mental health component for refugee and asylum-seeker parents to evaluate its feasibility and acceptability. Methods: This is a single-arm trial without a control group. The trial aims to recruit 14 refugee and asylum-seeker parents into an Online Learning Through Play and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (LTP + EMDR G-TEP). The intervention will be delivered by trained research team members using online platforms. Results: The participants’ sense of parenting competence, symptoms of traumatic stress, anxiety and depression will be measured at baseline and post-intervention. Semi-structured interviews at post-intervention will also be conducted. Discussion: This study will assess the feasibility and inform the design of a future randomized controlled trial which aims to evaluate the effectiveness of LTP + EMDR G-TEP intervention for parent refugees and asylum-seekers with young children.

scholarly journals How does context influence the delivery of mental health interventions for asylum seekers and refugees in low- and middle-income countries? A qualitative systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sohail Jannesari ◽  
Claudia Lotito ◽  
Giulia Turrini ◽  
Siân Oram ◽  
Corrado Barbui
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Qualitative Systematic Review ◽  
Mental Health Interventions ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) host the majority of the world’s refugees. Evidence suggests that refugees and asylum seekers have high mental health needs compared to the host country population. However, they face many social, economic and culture barriers to receiving mental health care and benefitting from mental health interventions. This paper examines how these contextual factors affect the implementation of mental health interventions for refugees and asylum seekers in LMICs. Methods We conducted a qualitative systematic review searching 11 databases and 24 relevant government and non-governmental organisation (NGO) websites. We spoke with academic experts and NGO professionals for recommendations, and conducted forwards and backwards citation tracking. Results From 2055 records in abstract and title screening, and then 99 in full-text screening, 18 eligible studies were identified. Qualitative thematic synthesis was conducted on eligible papers. Three main thematic clusters were identified around: (1) support during a time of pressure and insecurity, and the need for intervention flexibility through facilitator and participant autonomy; (2) different cultural conceptions of mental health, and how interventions negotiated these differences; and (3) the importance of facilitator skills, knowledge, characteristics and relationships to intervention implementation. Conclusion Evidence suggests that intervention coordinators and developers should continue to: (1) think broadly about the range of social influences on mental health, addressing structural issues where possible; (2) offer flexibility with intervention style, content and timings; and (3) encourage building research capacity in LMICs while acknowledging pre-existing mental health knowledge and practice.

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