Mental Health of Refugees and Migrants

Migration is a phenomenon that has become significantly more prevalent in the 21^st century.

It estimated that 244 million people (3.3% of the world’s population) live abroad on their own, of which sixty-five million have been forcibly displaced due to conflict and persecution.

These 244 million people can divide into two categories:

Individuals who have migrated freely for employment or educational opportunities across borders opened by world trade, as well as refugees with difficulty due to the problems of their country or the risk of their lives.

When people go through the process of migration or asylum from the beginning to the end, it will have a significant impact not only on their lives but also on their mental health. For this reason, in this article, we intend to examine the mental health of immigrants and refugees.

Migration; social relocation

Migration is not just a place transfer but a social and psychological transfer.

Immigration does not impair people’s mental health, but if not done properly and consciously, it can have a detrimental effect on people’s mental health.

This is especially true for people who choose the high-risk route of illegal immigration.

Improving mental health in the destination country

There are factors that improve the mental health of immigrants in the destination country. 

These factors for instance: finding a suitable place to live, excellent job opportunities, joining family members in the destination country, access to better public services, access to better health care ,no cultural restrictions.

The famous sociologist Gibson J quotes in his book immigration and mental health:

Examining the life and mental health of immigrants who have migrated from Tonga to New Zealand; specially women and girls who were oppressed in their country.

People who move to a more prosperous country will have better mental health.

Compulsory immigration and refuge

there is another type of migration; that people under pressure are forced to emigrate of their country of origin. 

Refugee (a person who immigrates for fear of persecution on the grounds of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, political thought). 

Most people who choose to seek asylum under psychological pressure, they will experience more stress and psychological problems than other immigrants.

Problems such as ; experiencing unsafe route, dealing with environmental hazards, high uncertainty, living in unprincipled camps and etc.

Factors affecting the mental health of immigrants

Migration affects different people in diverse ways.

In other words, migration without planning and awareness will often accompany by stressful events, obstacles, and challenges. 

If the migration planned and done with awareness and controlling the consequences will not only be successful; rather, it will improve the level of mental health and satisfaction of people.

  Factors that affect the mental health of refugees include:

• Personal characteristic
• Physical environment
• Socioeconomic status
• Separation from family
• Language barriers
• Unemployment
• Housing status and health care

Refugees have had difficult experiences to arriving in their destination country and have had devastating effects on their mental health, for example:

• Extreme poverty
• Violence
• Torture
• Rape
• Loss of family members 
• Death from severe mental and physical illness

Which mental illness is more common in refugees?

For many of these refugees, uncertainty about refugee status and fear of return lead to problems such as sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, recurrent migraines, fear, fear of rape, and inability to changes circumstances.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Many refugees have escaped horrific and deadly events.

Others have experienced tragic events along the way, such as the loss or disappearance of family members, which have caused trauma to their psyche.

Many of these refugees suffer from sleep disorders and struggle with suicidal thoughts. The experience of rape is one of the potential incidents for refugee women that can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Paying attention to the mental health of this group of people is especially important.

Feeling tired

Excessive tiredness that cannot relieved with any rest is one of the symptoms of depression. 

This feeling can interfere with daily and normal functioning and deprive the sufferer of the ability to perform activities.

Physical illness caused by mental problems

In many cases, mental health problems and distraction lead to physical problems that take your normal life out of the ordinary.

These physical problems include headaches, unexplained physical pain, dizziness, sleep problems, and etc.

The effects of unemployment on the mental health of refugees

Many refugees struggle to make ends meet and find work. Many of these people are unemployed or engaged in volunteer or part-time jobs. Refugees specifically refer to the desire to find a job instead of receiving social assistance, but numerous social barriers prevent them from finding a suitable job. Unemployment is associated with feelings of social isolation, stress, depression, and loss of identity.

Symptoms of refugee mental health problem

• Insomnia
• Nightmares
• Drug addiction
• Irritability
• Inability to communicate 
• Unwillingness to learn a language
• Fear of society
• Anger
• Self-harm
• Suicidal thoughts
• Suicide

Mental health of refugee children and their psychological damage

Certainly, refugee children are victims of oppression who have not chosen the condition in which they find themselves.

They are the victims of politics, crime, war, and conflict between adults who have taken refuge in another country for an unknown future.

Due to the existence of problems, the condition and mental health of refugee children are very fragile and vulnerable and need more attention from the community and officials.

Lack of education, single parenting or being away from family, adjustment to the unfamiliar environment are as a result of the problems that affect children’s mental health.

Solution to deal with the psychological damage caused by migration

• Talk to counsellor
• Be present in public
• Have positive activities
• Appreciate your small successes
• Have hope

Conclusion

Migration is the beginning of a new chapter in life that has begun with a specific purpose so must pursued with effort and pursuit.

In short, Post-migration depression is the body’s natural response to being in an unfamiliar environment and losing friends and loved ones.

So, With proper management and utilization of a specialist in the field of depression treatment, they can easily pass this stage.

Refugees can also be somewhat better off with the help of various organizations