'I feel as though I am dead but in a living body': The mental health toll of life as a refugee

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'I feel as though I am dead but in a living body': Syrians explain the mental health toll of life as a refugee

Órla Ryan reports from Lebanon, where she travelled to in early March prior to the Covid-19 travel restrictions. THE MENTAL HEALTH needs of refugees are complex – many are traumatised both by previous experiences in their home countries and the daily struggles they face in camps or informal settlements.Problems that beset every society, such as domestic violence and sexual abuse, are common features in refugee camps too.

Sarah Amhaz, a psychologist at Makhzoumi public health centre in Beirut, explained that the root cause of the issue is often multifaceted and people of all ages, but particularly children, may struggle to articulate what is wrong.Many more have no such support and, as they are struggling with basic needs like getting food, mental health is often not a priority.Lebanon, which has a population of about 6.8 people, has the highest concentration per capita of refugees in the world – an estimated 1.

Amhaz said an awareness-raising campaign has been carried out in formal refugee camps in Beirut about domestic violence, and several NGOs and shelters provide support for women and children in need. Police generally avoid refugee camps, as does the Lebanese government. Palestinian organisations like Fatah and Hamas are involved in some of the day-to-day running of camps in Beirut.

Over time she started going to therapy sessions with a psychologist at the centre. After building up trust with her psychologist, she recently disclosed that her husband is violent and regularly beats her and their children. About 2,400 refugee women and girls living in western Bekaa in Lebanon were surveyed. Researchers found that more than a third of those questioned who were aged between 20 and 24 had been married before reaching the age of 18.

He has threatened to take the children away from her or harm them if she leaves him. He recently threatened one of their sons with an axe.Fatima said her husband was always violent but the situation got worse when they came to Lebanon.In 2014, legislation that protects people who experience some forms of domestic abuse came into effect.

Sahar said moving into the camp was very difficult for the entire family but particularly for her step-daughter Noor. In 2018, MSF carried out over 125,000 outpatient consultations in Lebanon including 11,700 individual mental health consultations. “Most people, if they do get a job or two jobs, they’re not receiving what they deserve, which also creates a lot of frustration. The father could be out of the house from 8am to 11pm working six days a week, only getting $100 for the month. So again, this creates friction.”

 

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Terrible what external superpowers are doing to the middle east , but that's where your cheap fuel is coming from so why care

Next plane back

Just go home.

Syria is begging them all to go home and assist in rebuilding their country. That should help

Could always go back home to Syria

Why don't tweet this story, and then retweet it 5 times a day?

Can you please stop peddling this non stories. The war is over in Syria, these people need to return back to their country.

How many times is this shit going to be put up as a story

I can imagine.

So sad and so so wrong 💔😢

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