Public Health Aspects Of Mental Health Among Refugees, Asylum Seekers, And Irregullar Migrants: A View from the Sociocutural Context

By Dr. Joanne Wescott

Dr. Joanne Wescott is a life learner, servant leader, innovator, and visionary with advanced education. A Licensed Practical Nurse from the commonwealth of Virginia. She then went on to graduate from Delaware State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing as a Registered Nurse. She holds a Professional Registered Nurse with Multi-State L

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble Publishers
• Release date: Nov 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798868997334

Book preview

PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECTS OF MENTAL HEALTH AMONG REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS,

AND IRREGULLAR MIGRANTS:

A View from the Sociocutural Context

STOP THE STIGMA, SUPPORT HEALTH AWARNESS AMONG REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS.

Dr. Joanne Wescott

COPYRIGHT © 2023 BY Joanne Wescott

All Rights Reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.

First Printing Edition, 2023

Table of Contents

Chapter 1:

Development of Conceptual Issues on  Refugees and Asylum Seekers

INTRODUCTION

Definations

Acculturation Process

Outcomes of Acculturation Explained

Current Trends in Immigration in the US

Mental Risk Factors Amongst the Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Irregular Immigrants

Conclusion

References

Chapter 2:

Mental Health Distress and Psychological Interventions in Refugee Populations

Introduction

Why the Interest in Refugee Mental Health

Psychological distress and trauma: Prevalence, Presentation, and Meaning

Complex Resettlement Process

Holistic Approaches to Research on Stress-Free Resettlement

Embrace Multiscalar Research on Resettlement

Champion for Better Discussions of the Political Economy of Resettlement

Increased Attention to the Competing Goals within UNHCRs Resettlement Framework

Understand better how the Governance of Resettlement is based on Discretion and Persuasion

Be attentive to the Coercive Aspects of Resettlement

Conclusion

References

Chapter 3:

Pre-, During, and Post-Immigration Mental Health Issues and International Policies

Introduction

Pre-migration Factors and their Mental Health Consequences

Approaches to Addressing the Challenges

The Scientist-Practitioner Approach

Conclusion

References

Chapter 4:

Sexual Violence and Gender-Based  Violence and Mental Health Consequences Among Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Irregular Immigrants

Introduction

Brutal borders, Camps, no Shelter

Existing Policies Towards Management of the Issue

Justice to the Women

Mental Health and Sexual Abuse

Self-harm

Sexually-transmitted infections (STIs)

Dissociation

Panic Attacks

Depression

Flashbacks

Childhood Sexual Abuse

References

Chapter 5:

Suicide Among Refugees,  Asylum Seekers and Irregular Immigrants

Introduction

Suicide Risks

Visa Status

Trauma

Holistic Approaches to Dealing with Trauma and Suicidal Ideation

Share the Feelings with Someone Supportive

Seek Trauma-Informed Care

Detention Settings

Social isolation, loss and re-settlement

Social Determinants and Mental Health and Suicide Risk of Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Refugee and Asylum Seeker Suicide Prevention Training as an Early Intervention Approach to Suicide

Biblical Counseling

Ask → Notify → Listen → Pray → Resource → Follow up

Does the Bible tell us about people who wanted to die?

Conclusion

References

Chapter 6:

Loss and Cultural Bereavement Among Refugees

Theoretical Frameworks: Cultural Bereavement and Resilience

Cultural Bereavement

Resilience

Holistic Approaches for Healing Immigration Grief and Cultural Bereavement

Name your grieving experience

Sit with your grief

Storytelling

Find a therapist who is knowledgeable about cultural grief and who is also culturally aware

Join a grief and trauma recovery support group

Utilize cultural and/or spiritual practices for healing

Conclusion

References

Chapter 7:

Complex Mental Health Problems Facing Refugees and Their Treatments

Introduction

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Therapy

Cognitive Processing Therapies (CPT)

Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Stress Inoculation Training

Depression

Meaning: Find small ways to be of service to others

Your goals: Find workable goals that give you a sense of accomplishment

Pleasant Events: Schedule pleasant activities or events

Engagement: Stay in the present

Exercise: And, eat right too

Relationships: Focus on people who lift you up

Sleep Regularly: Try to keep a regular sleep schedule

Somatization

Psychotherapy

Biblical Insights

References

Chapter 8:

Cultural Competence Aspects When Dealing with the Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Introduction

Definition of cultural competence

Various approaches at different levels

Interventions at Individual level

Self-awareness and tolerance for ethnic differences

Understanding of refugee ethnicities, homelands, histories, and experiences

Engaging refugee customers in a respectful manner

Interventions at organizational level

Including the language and customs of clients in services

Removing entry barriers assisting refugee clients

Tips and Strategies for Culturally Sensitive Care

Language

Access to Care

Gender Issues

Respect of Modesty

Understand Cultural/Traditional Practices and Religious Observances

Fasting for Ramadan during Pregnancy

Anticipatory Guidance

Care Coordination and Case Management

Self-Reflective Questions for Providers to Ask Themselves

References

Chapter 9:

Adaptation and Acculturation

Introduction

Refugees and Their Migration Stories

How Healthy are the Refugees and What is the Relationship Between Their General Health and Mental Health?

Healthy Immigrant Effect

Immigrant resilience and a positive impact.

Years since Immigration Effect, Acculturation and Cumulative Stress Theories and Social Suffering

Adaptation, Acculturation and Racial-Ethnic Identity

Resettlement Stages

Stage 1: Bliss and interest

Stage 2: Disillusionment, disarray, disappointment, and bothering

Stage 3: Steady change or recuperation

Stage 4: Acknowledgment and change

Adapting to Host Country Challenges

Language

Business

Pay Divergence

Orientation Jobs

Environment

School

Normal Practices

Feeling that Everything is Good

Child Protection

Lodging

Bigotry

Comprehending Health, Disease and Treatment

Resilience and Coping Among the Refugees

Conclusion

References

Chapter 10:

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

Introduction

Overview of the Issue

Why Psychosocial Support is Important

Risks to Protection as Adopted from the UNHCR

Measures to Promote and Protect Psychosocial Wellbeing

Mainstreaming MHPSS Considerations when Providing Assistance

Psychological First Aid

Facilitated Group Discussions on Psychosocial Needs

Psycho-Education Group Session

Individual Counseling

Group Recreational Activities

Sports: An Innovative Tool to Support Refugee Mental Health

Social Relevance and Interdisciplinary

How Mental Health Benefits from Physical Exercise

Anxiety and Stress

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Depression

Panic Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Promotion of Positive Wellbeing through Exercise in Refugee Camps

Conclusion

References

Book Synopsis

This book is a comprehensive practical manual for mental health professionals that work across several theoretical philosophies to deliver mental health services specifically suited to the needs of refugees. As the number of displaced people increases, these needs are felt more acutely than ever. High rates of psychological discomfort are a common occurrence among refugees, and there is a serious lack of adequate mental health care facilities. This edited book contains chapters that describe psychological interventions that are supported by research and can be used in a culturally appropriate way. It covers important subjects, including cultural humility, screening and assessment problems, and particular ethical conundrums while working with refugees. The book examines how Western approaches, including cognitive behavior therapy, group therapy, expressive therapy, and school-based initiatives, have been modified to help populations of refugees who have been resettled. The book discusses the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches, along with suggestions for implementing more holistic frameworks in practice. Consequently, mental health professionals will have a better understanding of the psychological problems related to the experience of being a refugee and the most effective methods for treatment.

According to estimates, conflict or persecution has forced at least 33 million people from their homes worldwide. Various examinations have shown that these casualties of outrageous savagery and constrained movement experience significant degrees of mental pain, yet not very many of them approach center-based emotional wellness care. Despite this, center-based administrations are inadequate in addressing the multitude of stressors associated with displacement that affect refugees on a daily basis, regardless of whether they are in a new area of their country of origin or in a completely new country. These stressors encompass various factors such as social confinement, the deficiency of recently esteemed social jobs, destitution, an absence of open doors, as well as difficulties gaining admittance to instruction and clinical consideration. Moreover, numerous refugees from non-Western nations tend to underutilize these treatments due to their belief that Western approaches to psychiatry and psychology are culturally unfamiliar or stigmatizing.

The book identifies mental distress conditions among these vulnerable populations and then introduces a sociocultural aspect in deducing the potential ways of dealing with the condition. While the Western approaches are proven to be effective, approaching the mental health aspects from the cultural understanding of the patient is important. In this book, an international team of experts on refugee mental health has collaborated to develop a novel approach for treating the psychological scars caused by conflict and forced migration. Their work is influenced by a cultural paradigm that stresses the creation of culturally-based mental health therapies in non-stigmatized community settings, in contrast to the prevalent medical model of psychiatry and clinical psychology. The ecological model emphasizes collaboration with local natural resources to support adaptation, prevention over treatment, community members' active participation in all stages of the intervention process, and the empowerment of marginalized communities to take care of their own mental health needs.

The author presents authorities with a range of highly innovative, culturally-based interventions aimed at enhancing the mental health and psychosocial well-being of communities that have endured the nightmares of political repression, civil war, and genocide. These global specialists draw on their expertise in community psychology, prevention science, anthropology, social psychology, social psychiatry, public health, and child development. They talk about how different ideas of happiness and suffering have influenced their efforts, how they've combined Western and native methods for comprehending and treating psychological pain, and how they've used creatively trained paraprofessionals in several different situations. They transparently discuss the difficulties they have encountered while working in extremely challenging circumstances. The introduction chapter presents the ecological model in a comprehensive theoretical and empirical context while also reviewing and analyzing the current knowledge about the effects of political violence and exile on mental health. The first concluding chapter tackles the crucial but frequently overlooked issue of evaluating community-based interventions in conflict and post-conflict settings; the second summarizes the implications of the successes and limitations of the programs described, poses questions that must be addressed, such as How adequate is the PTSD construct in capturing the nature of refugee trauma? and offers numerous directions for future research and practice.

Public Health Aspects of Mental Health Among Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Irregular Migrants: A View from the Sociocultural Context is a crucial resource for all professionals who wish to assist members of this at-risk group, for those who instruct and monitor them, as well as for program administrators and policymakers interested in the welfare of refugees. Additionally, it is a great resource for graduate courses on ethnopolitical violence, community psychology, refugee and immigrant studies, psychological trauma, and public mental health. The book is, therefore, a valuable resource offering insight into the plight of the refugees globally with an emphasis on addressing their mental health from a sociocultural view. Analysis of the cultural background and cultural understanding of treatment helps to directly and easily address the mental health challenges faced by the refuges, asylum seekers, and irregular immigrants. A variety of pre-displacement, displacement, resettlement, and systemic factors affect the outcomes of mental health and welfare; detaining or granting temporary status to refugees who are already experiencing psychological distress upon arrival is one example.

Chapter 1:

Development of Conceptual Issues on

Refugees and Asylum Seekers

INTRODUCTION

Throughout the world, people face persecution due to their political stands, sexual orientations, and religious beliefs. Such persecutions make them leave their country of origin to settle elsewhere with the hope that they will get refuge and obtain asylum. The definition of refugee or asylum seekers has no standardized form since every country’s legal system provides what matches their expectations. However, the international definition of refugee or asylum seeker is persons who are outside their country of origin for reasons of feared persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or other circumstances that have seriously disturbed public order and, as a result, require international protection (United Nations, 2016). Arguably, despite the lack of a specific legal definition, the majority of experts concur that an international migrant is someone who relocates outside of their country of birth, regardless of their motivation for doing so or their legal standing. In general, a distinction is established between long-term or permanent migration, which refers to a change of residence for a length of one year or more, and short-term or temporary migration, which covers moves with a duration between three and twelve months (Dinesh Bhugra et al., 2010). Notably, an individual who has sought refuge but has not yet received a response to their request is referred to as an asylum seeker. Approximately one million people seek asylum annually. The above definitions have a direct implication on the person’s ethnic, cultural, and racial alignments since, in one way or another, the person will have to deal with new aspects of these.

Discursively, throughout human history, the study of mental health, culture, race, and ethnicity has never been more important than now. Consequently, mental health issues were mostly studied in industrialized countries, but the current increase in persecution across the divide makes it inevitable to address the issue from all over the world. Because of this, the contextual approach to this issue will entail analysis and description of race, culture, and ethnicity relative to mental health and mental illness. Only by doing so can we effectively identify and address the mental health challenges that impact refugees, asylum seekers, and irregular migrants, all of whom may experience cultural, ethnic, and racial shock.

Definations

Culture:

Language, religion, cuisine, social customs, music, and the arts are all aspects of a particular group of people's knowledge and characteristics or culture. Thus, culture can be thought of as a set of socially learned cognitive frameworks, behavioral patterns, and interpersonal interactions. Culture may be defined as the development of a group identity supported by particular social patterns inside the community. It encompasses a wide range of aspects such as religion, cuisine, clothing, language, marriage customs, music, values, etiquette, and interpersonal relationships, among numerous other norms and practices. 

Ethnicity:

A social group known as ethnicity is one that has a recognizable and shared culture, religion, or language. Additionally, it refers to an individual's ethnic characteristics, history, allegiance, or relationship. Like race, the definition and usage of the word ethnicity have evolved over the centuries.  The fundamental part of this definition is the basicity in which we use ethnicity as a key identifier of a person.

Race: