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An Uncertain Safety pp 117–153Cite as

Integrative Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Interventions for Refugees in Humanitarian Crisis Settings

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Abstract

Refugees are often exposed to various interrelated stressors including the loss of resources and belongings, death of, or separation from, loved ones as well as direct exposure to armed conflict and violence. Psychological distress is common amongst refugees, with a substantial percentage developing mild to moderate mental disorders such as depression or anxiety disorders. A small percentage of people in refugee settings have severe mental disorders (often exacerbations of pre-existing disorders) and they are especially vulnerable.

This chapter outlines complex challenges in addressing the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs of refugees and describes key global guidelines, programmatic elements and recommendations in the areas of MHPSS including situational assessments, coordination of services and functional integration of mental health interventions within existing health systems. Various specific intervention modalities will be discussed, including psychological first aid, scalable psychological interventions, community-based psychosocial work and training of health workers in basic mental health care. This chapter has the potential to inform the planning, implementing or researching of MHPSS considerations for programmes in humanitarian refugee crises.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technical Unit, International Medical Corps, Washington, DC, USA

    Inka Weissbecker

  2. WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Geneva, Switzerland

    Fahmy Hanna

  3. Public Health Unit, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

    Mohamed El Shazly

  4. Centre for Global Mental Health, London, UK

    James Gao

  5. Public Health Section, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva, Switzerland

    Peter Ventevogel

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  1. Inka Weissbecker
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  3. Mohamed El Shazly
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  4. James Gao
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  5. Peter Ventevogel
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Correspondence to Inka Weissbecker .

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  1. World Psychiatric Association Scientific Section, Psychological Aspects of Persecution and Torture, Geneva, Switzerland

    Thomas Wenzel

  2. PsyQ/Parnassia Group, Rosmalen/Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Boris Drožđek

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Weissbecker, I., Hanna, F., El Shazly, M., Gao, J., Ventevogel, P. (2019). Integrative Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Interventions for Refugees in Humanitarian Crisis Settings. In: Wenzel, T., Drožđek, B. (eds) An Uncertain Safety. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72914-5_6

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