The impact of racism, prejudice and discrimination on mental health of refugees and our actions in our project
Stereotype towards and discrimination against refugees and immigrants are still rampant. Perceived prejudice and discrimination against them can worsen their mental well-being as they experience traumatic situations that results in psychological distress. Many refugees are traumatized by war, torture, hunger, loss of family members, loss of body parts and further which increases their mental distress (Kastrup, 2016). Post-migration problems can be added to their trauma.
Research on consequences of racism and dicrimination indicated that psychiatric disorders and symptoms including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide (Eckstein, 2011) are prevalent among immigrants and refugees. Discrimination has been identified as a major stressor on mental health of refugees (Ayon, 2015). Refugees tend to have significant mental health problems compared to the immigrant populations. Racism and discrimination include the negative stereotype and prejudicial beliefs and unfair practices. Additionally, health inequalities exist because of racism and economic disparities. There is an urgent need to identify the ideal interventions to reduce the health disparities for refugees.
Past studies highlight the dramatic mental health burden among refugees and provide important information about discrimination. They also provide important information for health care systems and political authorities in receiving countries and demonstrate the necessity of establishing early psychosocial support for refugees suffering from psychological distress. This psychological support would be include a wide range of strategies from adaptation studies, helping them to find jobs, integrate in host culture, offering free psychological services, activities for children, offering opportunities for children who are able to go to school and so on.
Perceived discrimination is a kind of stressor which can lead to premature illness and death (Williams & Mohammed, 2009). Perceived discrimination has been associated with a wide range of physical and mental health problems including smoking, alcohol use, obesity, hypertension, breast cancer, depression, anxiety, psychological distress, substance use, and self-reported health across ethnoracial groups. Discrimination, legal status, and language conflict can be linked to acculturation stressors of immigrants. However, poor health can be decreased with social support by reducing effects of discrimination on health.
In our project, facilitators work with Syrian refugees to train them to understand identity, remember their own identities, address inequality and dehumanizing, and unconscious bias. We tried to be inclusive while we were preparing our presentation slides. Utilizing diverse images, mentioning common problem that refugees experienced, giving examples from different backgrounds, and addressing the cultural differences. As acculturation is one of the main problems that refugees and immigrants experiences, their adaptation to the host country is critical. Demonstrating the important role of social support in buffering the effects of discrimination on health is an important part of helping them to seek their social support. Being familiar with the host culture is one of the most important factors to adapt. Thus, we tried to make a connection with them and the host country.
As migration and mobility is ever increasing on a global scale, one of the important issues is diversity. Specifically, Syrian refugees in our project live in a country different from their home country. They may encounter with prejudice, bias, discrimination, and inequality. In this regard, strengthening their resilience and creating awareness of cultural differences may play a crucial role. We endeavor to highlight the importance of diversity, equity, equality, and access.
References
Ayon C (2015). Economic, social, and health effects of discrimination on Latino immigrant families. Washington, DC: Migration Policy Institute.
Kastrup, M. (2016). The impact of racism and discrimination on mental health of refugees and asylum seekers. European Psychiatry, 33, S43. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.896
Vallejo-Martín, M.; Canto, J.M.; San Martín García, J.E.; Perles Novas, F. Prejudice and Feeling of Threat towards Syrian Refugees: The Moderating Effects of Precarious Employment and Perceived Low Outgroup Morality. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 6411.
Williams DR, & Mohammed SA (2009). Discrimination and racial disparities in health: evidence and needed research. J Behav Med, 32(1), 20–47.
