We then provide a selective analysis of the current status of research on refugee mental health, service provision, and health policy in several of the primary destinations for forcibly displaced Syrians. We first offer a brief background on relevant global health policy, followed by a short summary of recent research on refugee mental health. This article provides an update and overview of refugee mental health in the context of the Syrian crisis, exploring opportunities for further research and strengthened health governance that can help drive the expansion of services. There are also concerns about the burden of mental disorder and service accessibility in the European, Asian-Pacific, and North American countries where many Syrians have sought refuge or resettled ( 13). This applies to the conflict zone within Syria, as well as the primary transit and destination countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region. While the available evidence on the mental health of Syrian refugees and IDPs remains incomplete and fragmentary, reports from multilateral agencies and NGOs point to high prevalence rates and a glaring scarcity of mental health services within countries impacted by the crisis ( 11, 12). UNHCR Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2020.Īlthough research on refugee mental health has only recently gained momentum, the emerging evidence describes high rates of mental disorder associated with trauma, stress, and cultural isolation due to forced migration, often met by a lack of adequate resources ( 7– 10). Compounding all of this is the COVID-19 pandemic, which has created additional mental health risks for this already vulnerable population ( 5), with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recently emphasizing that the pandemic has led to “widespread despair” among refugees ( 6) 1. This includes policies and interventions specific to mental health, given the unique and often acute mental health needs of IDPs, refugees, and asylum seekers. Beyond the immediate political and economic challenges, the Syrian conflict has created a public health crisis and thus an essential component of any response to this ongoing humanitarian emergency must be health-related ( 2– 4). After a decade of violence and destabilization, over 13.4 million Syrians have been displaced, including 6.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 6.7 million refugees registered in other countries ( 1) ( Table 1). The ongoing conflict in Syria is a major contributor. The most recent global refugee figures are staggering, with 82.4 million people forcibly displaced and 26.4 million registered refugees ( 1). Finally, several general recommendations are discussed, including the pressing need for more data at each phase of migration, the expansion of integrated mental health services, and the explicit inclusion and prioritization of refugee mental health in national and global health policy. This starts within Syria and then turns to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Germany. We then provide an update on the current status of research, service provision, and health policy in the leading destinations for Syrians who have been forcibly displaced. Relevant global health policy frameworks are first briefly introduced, followed by a short summary of recent research on refugee mental health. This policy and practice review addresses refugee mental health in the context of the Syrian crisis, providing an update and overview of the current situation while exploring new initiatives in mental health research and global health policy that can help strengthen and expand services. Beyond the immediate political and economic challenges, an essential component of any response to this humanitarian crisis must be health-related, including policies and interventions specific to mental health. After a decade of violence and destabilization, over 13.4 million Syrians have been displaced, including 6.7 million internally displaced persons and 6.7 million refugees registered in other countries. The most recent global refugee figures are staggering, with over 82.4 million people forcibly displaced and 26.4 million registered refugees.
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