Research Library

Refugee mental health and the meaning of “home”

Abstract
This article describes the functional and psychological significance of “home” and how refugee mental health and resettlement may be affected by the lack of social supports associated with the concept of home. Using illustrations from studies with refugee communities, the author suggests that the way in which refugees evoke experiences of “back home” reveals critical social and psychological gaps in their settlement and integration experiences. Note that while the study provides insights into the experiences of refugees in Ontario and Alberta, the article emphasizes the need for a pan-Canadian approach to address the mental health needs of refugees.
Authors: Laura Simich Publication Date: 1/1/2010

Publication Type: Journal Article
Notes

Integration timeline: 10 years

Key findings:

  • Refugees often experience a sense of loss and displacement when they are resettled in Canada, particularly due to the absence of extended family and social support.
  • Strengthening family reunification policies and investing in employment and educational opportunities can help refugees integrate into Canadian society.
  • Culturally-appropriate mental health and family counseling, as well as alternative means of conflict resolution, can help refugees recover a sense of dignity and wellbeing.

  • Images of “back home” are often associated with the need for customary emotional support, problem-solving, and fulfilling the needs of the family.

Key populations: Sudanese refugees in Ontario and Alberta

Open access: No

Community organizations:

Future research / gaps identified:

  • There is a need for more research on the social determinants of refugee mental health during resettlement, as social factors can be as important as medical treatment.
  • There is a lack of research on the long-term mental health outcomes of refugees, particularly in relation to the impact of social and economic integration.
  • There is a need for more research on the effectiveness of mental health interventions for refugees, particularly those that are culturally appropriate and tailored to the needs of specific refugee communities.

Key recommendations:

  • Develop mental health care and health promotion strategies that take into account the impact of forced migration and settlement.
  • Strengthen family reunification policies and invest in employment and educational opportunities for refugees.
  • Provide culturally-appropriate mental health and family counseling, as well as alternative means of conflict resolution.
  • Design programs and social supports that are tailored to refugee communities, which may occur on both national and provincial levels.
  • Negotiate new meanings of home and create a greater sense of belonging for refugees in Canada.

Location

  • Alberta in general
  • Ontario

Collections discrimination-and-belonging , physical-and-mental-health , refugee-experiences , social-services

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