Developing trauma informed services for refugee children, young people and families

Abstract

Refugees and migrants are at risk of poor mental health because of their traumatic or stressful experiences. Many of them experience feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, sadness, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, anger and irritability. They are at higher risk of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, many refugees and migrants lack access to dedicated mental health services or experience barriers in accessing them. This leaves even a larger impact on children, young people and families. My lived experiences as a refugee and someone who sought help for my PTSD along with understanding the challenges of other traumatised people in accessing dedicated mental health services, have shaped the development of an innovative mental health initiative, Arian Wellbeing, which brings together a team of highly qualified psychologists, registered therapists, personal trainers and motivated professionals with a vision to make access to trauma-informed and culturally sensitive mental health services available to everyone including hard to reach populations, such as refugees and migrants.