The occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, in refugees is high, with some studies estimating that there are tens of thousands of resettled refugees living with PTSD. These individuals have experienced traumatic events such as war, persecution, and displacement, which can lead to a range of symptoms, including flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety. These symptoms can make it difficult for refugees to adjust to their new surroundings and begin leading their new life.
There are several ways in which communities can help refugees who are living with PTSD. Here we’ll take a look at the ways you and your community can get involved to ensure refugees are supported and can find joy after so much pain.
Providing Access to Mental Health Services
One of the most important ways to help is to ensure refugees have access to mental health services, including counseling, therapy, and medication. Treatment can help refugees process their traumatic experiences and develop strategies to manage their symptoms.
Involving refugees with PTSD in the decision-making process regarding the services and support available to them is also essential for their mental health. Refugees and immigrants often feel dehumanized throughout the process of resettlement and from their experiences fleeing their countries. Promoting mental wellness means ensuring that they know they have a voice and are heard. It is also important to listen to feedback and make changes to services and support as needed.
Mental health issues among refugees are not only limited to PTSD but also include other conditions such as depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. A variety of factors, such as poverty, isolation, discrimination, and lack of access to services may worsen these conditions. Therefore, addressing the wider range of issues that refugees face is crucial to improving their mental health.
Providing Access to Safe & Stable Environments
Another important aspect of mental health is a safe and stable living environment, including access to housing, food, and other basic needs. Ensuring that they do not face discrimination in their communities is also important and something that everyone needs to work towards.
Many refugees have experienced trauma individually and as a part of their family unit. This can be family separation, loss of support systems, and difficulties in parent-child relationships. It’s crucial to support entire families and not only focus on the individual, as PTSD can affect adults and children in many ways.
Understanding (& Respecting) Cultural Differences
Cultural and linguistic barriers may prevent refugees from accessing mental health services. Providing services in native languages and ensuring that mental health professionals are trained in cultural competence are a few ways to help break down barriers. It is also important to recognize and respect cultural differences in how mental health is understood and treated.
Similarly, many refugees’ cultural backgrounds are very different from the culture they encounter in the United States. Those who want to work with and help refugee populations must understand how those cultural differences can contribute to not only mental health treatment but also how those individuals encounter their new communities.
Fostering a Sense of Community
Providing refugees with a sense of community and belonging can be crucial in helping them to heal from PTSD. This can be done through programs that connect refugees with other members of their community, such as language classes or cultural events. Refugees have not just lost their homes and belongings, they have left behind entire communities, friends, ancestral ties, and more. It can be incredibly isolating during resettlement, and community support can and should foster belonging and social support whenever possible.
It Takes a Village
Working with refugees is rewarding and important work, but there are many complexities in these situations that require us all to be mindful. Trauma-informed approaches should also be implemented in all aspects of service provision for refugees. For example, understanding the impact of trauma on behavior, communication, and decision-making and making adjustments to policies and procedures can better support displaced individuals who have experienced trauma.
Supporting refugee mental health is not just the responsibility of mental health professionals or organizations—it is a collective responsibility that requires the involvement of individuals, community organizations, and governments. In addition to one-on-one support and community building, we can advocate for funding mental health services, creating policies that support refugees’ mental health, and promoting a culture of understanding and acceptance towards refugees.
For more information on how you can support our refugee population or to get help today, reach out to A Body & Mind.