Harvard-Trained Trauma Expert | Award-winning Psychotherapist | Public Health Practitioner | Global Health Strategy Consultant | Corporate Wellness Expert | Bush Foundation Fellow | Education System Mental Health Expert
🌍✨ Refugee and migrants in Europe often face significant challenges when it comes to their mental well-being. Studies have shown that older refugees may experience depression, while younger male refugees commonly struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. These difficulties can be traced back to the traumatic events they have witnessed in their home countries and during their journey. Accessing appropriate care is not always easy for refugees and immigrants due to structural issues. Additionally, research has revealed that the length of time spent in detention centers can have a negative impact on their mental health. 📚🌱 Further research has also highlighted a range of mental health issues within the refugee community as a whole. These include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, psychosis, paranoia, and self-harm. The feeling of isolation and loneliness is prevalent among refugees, underscoring the urgent need to better understand and address their mental health concerns. ☑️🤝 During my time in Italy in 2017 and 2018, I had the privilege of witnessing the resilience of refugee youth who were facing mental health challenges. A social worker from the University of Perugia contacted me and asked for my assistance in supporting these incredible individuals. Despite facing obstacles such as a shortage of resources, a lack of culturally tailored services, and language and cultural barriers, their determination and strength left an indelible mark on me. 🤔🌱 I am aware that mental health services for refugees and immigrants vary across European countries, as do resources and capacities to support those in need. However, I am keen to learn about the efforts your country is making to tackle these issues. I am also interested in how we can contribute to advocating for improved mental healthcare for refugees and immigrants. Additionally, I would appreciate insights into the obstacles that exist in accessing appropriate mental healthcare and how we can overcome them. Anna Córdoba Dougoukolo Alpha Oumar Ba Konaré Samuel Matsikure Gladiola Ilcu Vincenzo Di Nicola #RefugeeMentalHealth #ImmigrantWellBeing #MentalHealthAdvocacy #BreakingBarriers #TogetherForMentalHealth
With the global warming, some countries will become less and less compliant to human lives. As a consequence, in addition to refugees migrating for economic reasons, another wave will move because they just won't be able to survive where they are born. This will be a new source of mental health disease for millions of humans, and if we do not anticipate today all undertaking required to integrate them in our "protected" societies. This will be a human disaster very soon. What you are describing is just the first wave of a foreseeable tsunami if we don't prepare all western people to that earthquake for humanity. Unless we start waking up and eventually understand we all share the same house.
I recently organized with my colleague and friend Racky KA-SY a group session after very sad and triggering police violence events and their aftermath. Participants were shocked and many said this was their first opportunity to discuss these issues related to race. Immigration creates new generations of colored people in Europe, so we must also look at intergenerational trauma and institutional racism when dealing with immigration issues.
Médico Psiquiatra Psicoanalista.
1yApreciado Dr Adam Kahim, M.S.W. Desde Barcelona, (España), comentarte que, existe poca red de Salud Mental pensada especialmente, para este grupo social ( refugiados/ inmigrantes). Por otro lado, se encuentran, en general, al inicio, con el gran escollo de la barrera idiomática. Todos sabemos que siempre, pero especialmente, en nuestra profesión, es fundamental entendernos, para comprender en profundidad el sentir y dolor del otro, y de esta manera, poderlo realmente, ayudar. Pocos traductores, pocos medios. Recomiendo leer un caso del Dr Freud; " El hombre de los lobos", que trata de la neurosis grave de un joven ruso, exiliado a Londres, en la época del tercer Reich. Te felicito por tu iniciativa y labor con estos pacientes!