New developments in the mental health of refugee children and adolescents

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Hodes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Treatment Effectiveness ◽  
Refugee Children ◽  
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors ◽  
New Developments ◽  
Treatment Provision ◽  
Parent Child Relationships ◽  
Models Of Service Delivery ◽  
Refugee Minors

The increase in refugees globally since 2010 and the arrival of many into Europe since 2015, around 50% of whom are under 18 years, have been the stimulus to greater investigation and publications regarding their mental health. This clinical review summarises selected themes in the field as described in the published literature since 2016. The themes include refugee statistics, premigration and postmigration experiences, psychopathology focusing on parent–child relationships, unaccompanied refugee minors and associations between resettlement, acculturation and mental health. Some important reviews and studies are discussed that address service and treatment provision. While there has been a recent increase in research in this field, more is needed into the course of psychopathology, protective factors and the promotion of integration into resettlement countries, as well as models of service delivery and treatment effectiveness.

scholarly journals Barriers for unaccompanied refugee minors in accessing mental health care: Is it the therapy or the therapist?

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S339-S339 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Majumder ◽  
P. Vostanis ◽  
M. O’Reilly
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Treatment Engagement ◽  
Refugee Children ◽  
Service Access ◽  
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors ◽  
Vulnerable Group ◽  
Refugee Minors

IntroductionRefugee children, particularly unaccompanied refugee minors, present with disproportionately high prevalence of mental health and emotional difficulties. However, the mental health service access and treatment engagement of this vulnerable group has been consistently shown to be poorer than the general population. Despite of this, so far there hasn’t been much research to explore the possible underlying reasons or barriers for these young people to access mental health service in their host countries.Aims and objectivesThis research aims to understand unaccompanied refugee children's barriers to access and utilize mental health services. To explore any potential characteristics in the service provision that can be linked with the observed poor treatment engagement and service access is also an objective of this study.MethodsThe study was conducted by using semi-structured interviews with 15 unaccompanied asylum seeking minors and their carers to elicit their views, perceptions and beliefs based on their experience of receiving treatment from a specialist mental health service in the UK.ResultsThe interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. The main findings were categorised into two broad themes, the participants’ perceptions of the intervention received, and perception of the professionals involved. The different elements and pertinent issues within these two broad areas were discussed.ConclusionsFindings will help stimulate further exploratory research gaining better understanding of the barriers for these young people to access treatment, and contribute in developing innovative services that are more efficient in engaging this vulnerable group and suitable to meet their specific needs.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals ChildMove: Transit experiences and mental health of unaccompanied refugee minors

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Derluyn ◽  
F Verhaeghe
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Refugee Children ◽  
Systematic Research ◽  
Migration Route ◽  
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors ◽  
The Media ◽  
Refugee Minors

Abstract Since early 2015, the media continuously confront us with images of refugee children drowning in the Mediterranean, surviving in appalling conditions in camps or walking across Europe. Within this group of fleeing children, a considerable number is travelling without parents, the unaccompanied refugee minors. While the media images testify to these flight experiences and their possible huge impact on unaccompanied minors' wellbeing, there has been no systematic research to fully capture these experiences, nor their mental health impact. In this paper, we present the first results of the ERC-Starting Grant Project 'ChildMove', whereby we followed a large group of unaccompanied refugee minors (n = 200) over the course of two years in order to document their transit experiences and the mental health impact of these experiences. Our study started in different transit countries (i.e., Greece, Italy and Belgium; an additional cross-sectional study was carried out in Libya) and from there one we followed the minors wherever they went on their migration route. During this longitudinal follow, we collected data using a mixed-methods approach (i.e., self-report questionnaires on difficult experiences and mental health symptoms and in-depth interviews) at each of the three measurement moments. The data reveal that these youngsters experience a continued series of difficult events during their trajectories, such as being detained, violence at the borders (including borders within Europe), push-backs, abuse by smugglers and other persons, appalling living conditions, racism, etc., but also after (temporary or permanent) settlement in Europe. The participants also report over the course of the follow-up high levels of mental health problems (i.e., symptoms of depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress).

scholarly journals Long-term mental health in unaccompanied refugee minors: pre- and post-flight predictors

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 1671-1682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tine K. Jensen ◽  
Ane-Marthe Solheim Skar ◽  
Elin Sofia Andersson ◽  
Marianne Skogbrott Birkeland
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors ◽  
Refugee Minors

scholarly journals Drug use and criminality among unaccompanied refugee minors: a review of the literature

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Karin Ivert ◽  
Mia-Maria Magnusson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
International Research ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Refugee Minors

Purpose Organisations working with children have acknowledged that unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) across Europe are exposed to environments and situations that put them at risk for becoming addicted to drugs or becoming involved in crime. The purpose of this paper is to study an examination of existing international research concerning URM and of whether, and if so how, issues relating to drug use and criminality among these children are discussed in the international literature. Design/methodology/approach A literature review was conducted using PsycINFO, PubMed, Sociological abstracts and ERIC databases, which together cover the social and behavioural science and also medicine. Findings Findings from the present review show that the issues of drug abuse and criminality among URM are rarely acknowledged in the international research literature. When the occurrence of substance abuse and/or criminality is discussed, it is often in relation to mental health problems and in terms of self-medication, i.e. that alcohol or drugs are used by the URM to cope with painful experiences or mental health problems, and also with the challenges of integrating into a new society, difficulties finding work, unsuitable living conditions and a lack of social support. Originality/value This review shows that several researchers have emphasised that untreated mental health problems, stressful living conditions and a lack of support and control might put these children at risk for substance abuse and criminality, and this suggests a need for further research in this area.

scholarly journals The impact of the asylum process on mental health: a longitudinal study of unaccompanied refugee minors in Norway

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. e015157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne Jakobsen ◽  
Melinda Ashley Meyer DeMott ◽  
Tore Wentzel-Larsen ◽  
Trond Heir
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Refugee Minors

Posttraumatic stress among Eritrean unaccompanied refugee minors in Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natnael Terefe Arega
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Traumatic Life Events ◽  
Refugee Minors

Purpose Unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) are known to be subjected to several potentially traumatic life events, risking more mental health problems than other populations of same age. Evidence concerning the mental health of Eritrean URMs in Ethiopia is scarce. This paper aims to present an estimate of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within this group and describes its associations with traumatic life events and participants’ characteristics. Design/methodology/approach This cross-sectional quantitative study surveyed a random sample of 384 Eritrean URMs, aged 12–17 years, in the Shimelba refugee camp. The Stressful Life Events (SLE) questionnaire and the Reactions of Adolescents to Traumatic Stress (RATS) questionnaire were used to assess traumatic events and PTSD symptoms, respectively. Descriptive statistics, the chi-square test with the odds-ratio and stepwise regression were used to analyze data. Findings Large proportions of the URMs had experienced traumatic events including physical abuse (261, 68%), separation from family against will (240, 62.5%), a stressful life event in which they were in danger (198, 51.6%), and important changes in family life (196, 51%). About 38% of the URMs met the criteria for classifying probable PTSD diagnosis, suggesting that they are likely to have PTSD. The odds-ratio statistic revealed that girls and the oldest age group (15–17 years) were at a greater risk for PTSD. The total score on the SLE appeared to be the robust predictor, explaining 28% of the variance in RATS total scores. Research limitations/implications Self-report questionnaires used in this study yield less diagnostic information than extensive interviews. Additional information should be collected from the viewpoint of significant adults (caregivers/ teachers). Such information would be crucial in assessing the degree of impairment in daily functioning and the severity of the symptoms. Originality/value Awareness of the stressful experiences and the mental health status of the URMs has implications for taking preventive and curative measures to provide a broad range of intervention programs and psychosocial support.

Mental health of displaced and refugee children resettled in low-income and middle-income countries: risk and protective factors

The Lancet ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 379 (9812) ◽  
pp. 250-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth V Reed ◽  
Mina Fazel ◽  
Lynne Jones ◽  
Catherine Panter-Brick ◽  
Alan Stein
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Risk And Protective Factors ◽  
Refugee Children ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries

scholarly journals Different Patterns of Mental Health Problems in Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM): A Sequential Mixed Method Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Hanewald ◽  
Michael Knipper ◽  
Werner Fleck ◽  
Jörn Pons-Kühnemann ◽  
Eric Hahn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Mixed Method Study ◽  
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors ◽  
Refugee Minors
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