Mental health of resettled Syrian refugees: a practical cross-cultural guide for practitioners
| Pages | 20-32 |
| Published date | 18 October 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-03-2019-0013 |
| Date | 18 October 2019 |
| Author | Nadim Almoshmosh,Hussam Jefee Bahloul,Andres Barkil-Oteo,Ghayda Hassan,Laurence J. Kirmayer |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Mental health education |
Mental health of resettled Syrian
refugees: a practical cross-cultural guide
for practitioners
Nadim Almoshmosh, Hussam Jefee Bahloul, Andres Barkil-Oteo, Ghayda Hassan and
Laurence J. Kirmayer
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to prepare healthcare providers in high-income countries to deal with
mental health and psychosocial issues among resettled Syrian refugees.
Design/methodology/approach –Collaborative work of the authors on a comprehensive review of social
context, cultural frameworks and related issues in the mental health and psychosocial well-being of resettled
Syrian refugees.
Findings –A practical guide that emphasizes the importance of considering the social and cultural
dimensions of their predicament and highlighting principles that can help clinicians address the unique needs
of Syrian refugee patients.
Originality/value –The content of this paper is inspired by the collaborative work of the authors on a report
commissioned by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR).
Keywords Cultural competence, Adaptive coping, Mental health services for refugees,
Psychosocial support, Resettled Syrians, Victims of torture
Paper type Viewpoint
Key Recommendations for healthcare providers:
■Focussing efforts on advocacy for human rights and improvement of living conditions
(e.g. housing, employment, food) and fostering coping skills and resilience are key to
effective mental health services for Syrian refugees.
■Healthcare providers should be careful not to over-diagnose mental disorders among
displaced Syrians, especially in the early post-settlement phase when refugees face
insecurity and have many ongoing daily stressors.
■Providers are advised to avoid psychiatric l abelling because this can be especially alienating
and stigmatizing for survivors of violence and injustice. Using easy-to-understand terms
is recommended.
■Healthcare practitioners should avoid being overly directive. Instead, listening closely to
the wishes and views of the person who seeks help will empower them to make their
own decisions.
■Services for SGBV survivors may be more acceptable if they are provided within a
non-stigmatizing setting, such as general health care or women’s centres, without initially
addressing the issue of abuse explicitly.
Introduction
The conflict in Syria has caused the largest refugee displacement crisis of our times. Since March
2011, the Syria conflict has resulted in nearly half of the population being displaced, comprising
almost 6.6m inside Syria and more than 5.6m registered refugees who have fled to neighbouring
Received 13 March 2019
Revised 7 July 2019
Accepted 9 September 2019
Nadim Almoshmosh is based
at St Andrews Healthcare,
Northamptonshire, UK.
Hussam Jefee Bahloul is based
at the School of Medicine,
University of Massachusetts,
Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Andres Barkil-Oteo is based at
Yale School of Medicine, New
Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Ghayda Hassan is based at the
University of Quebec at
Montreal, Montreal, Canada.
Laurence J. Kirmayer is based
at McGill University,
Montreal, Canada.
PAGE20
j
THE JOURNAL OF MENTALHEALTH TRAINING, EDUCATION AND PRACTICE
j
VOL. 15 NO. 1 2020, pp.20-32, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1755-6228 DOI 10.1108/JMHTEP-03-2019-0013
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