What's to come?

The purpose of this research was to understand how mental and psychological disorders affect asylum seekers and refugees as they try to move on and start new. Just as importantly I wanted to know exactly what kind of treatment/attention they get once they come to America. I have learned there is basically no government organized system specifically to help with these idorders among refugees. Only if there exist extremely noticable issues will a refugee get help. Many don't go through any sort of support program, whether it has an emphasis on basic survival or monetary help or anything at all. Right now charitys, such as church groups and not-for-profit groups, and university clinics, are the only places that offer refugees help. That needs to change.

Or does it? I am not a refugee or asylum seeker, I have no idea what is needed to start over in this country. That is what the next part of my research will be about is understanding what is needed, from the refugee point 0f view.

Perspective from an expert

I have contacted Pare Gerou, who works with refugees through the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. Though much of her time is spent with the legal side of refugee issues, she has gotten to know many refugees extremely well. She has encountered refugees with various disorders and has first-hand knowledge of how these can affect a refugee's ability to cope with change and life in a new society. I have asked her so many questions, below is an excerpt from her responses:


1. What kinds of psychological disorders have you encountered with the refugees you have worked with?
Just about everything. PTSD is the disorder people like to talk about most, but depending on the population (ethnicity, nationality, sex, etc) they experiencing a whole panoply of disorders. Here is the website to one of the best clinics in the country for refugees and asylees who are experiencing trauma and other psychological disorders (Bellvue Hospital Program for survivors of Torture)-- http://lib.bioinfo.pl/pmid:16534436. As you can see, this is a link to the documents discussing the psychological traumas. New York University has a clinic that works with Bellvue, and here is their website-http://www.survivorsoftorture.org/what_interpart.html. You can go to their website if you want to research the types of services provided to victims of torture in a larger urban center.

2. How do their disorders affect their ability to live in a new environment and adapt to a society different from their own?
The transition can be incredibly difficult for refugees and asylees who have experienced trauma. Focusing on a particular refugee population and talking about their particular adjustment problems will be the easiest way to tackle this issue. New York University has a refugee clinic that works with Bellvue Hospital. Their website has information about Ugandan child soldiers who have been resettled in the United States-- http://www.survivorsoftorture.org/what_interpart.html. The “Multicultural Human Services” program in Washington DC provides services to resettled refugees, and they are very approachable. You can call them and ask them a few questions if you like--http://www.nvfs.org/

3. Stories--
*I have had a client who was charged with beating her young son. She was Bosnian, had been raped repeatedly, and her husband had been killed by Serbs.
*I have a Tibetan client who was imprisoned by Chinese for 10 years and tortured. Although I brought his wife over to Charlottesville, he spends most of his time working alone in New York where he can earn more money and is extremely antisocial— cannot bond with relatives or wife anymore.
*I have a Vietnamese manto who was imprisoned and tortured for 10 years. He has been unable to learn English and communicate much although he is clearly quite young and bright.
*I have Sudanese children who never take part in any play at all and merely stare at the children from the sidelines.
*I have a couple who divorced because he was having violent episodes. He was imprisoned and then shot in the leg while fighting.

Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project

This is a video I found about an amazing organization in Australia. This is a great example of a program that provides emotional and "practical" support. Comprised mainly of volunteers, this group gives refugees a weekly allowance (only 33 dollars so as not to become dependent on them), they provide them with connections to housing and they get at least one visit a month from social workers. One asylum seeker noted how much they cared about his emotional well-being right from the start. All money given to the refugees comes from generous donations of local residents. I think it is a wonderful program that could be emulated somewhere here in America, but hopefully with a bit of federal donations as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olRomiuSHAQ

America vs. Third World

I'm curious as to why in America so many people are diagnosed with various disorders such as ADHD or insomnia or depression or countless other mental disorders and yet these issues seem to be on the back burner when it comes to social awareness. In America there is a lot of support and medicine for people with these problems and it seems like most Americans are familiar with how these disorders affect people. But in the "third world" for example, it is widely ignored.

I think the obvious reason for this difference is that countries in the third world maybe have more problems that sweep the entire country (like genocide or debt or civil war etc.) and force the governments and society to focus on that matter. People in America are lucky enough not to have to worry about those things everyday. I can see how people who suffer from depression in Darfur, for instance, might not get individual attention. I can also see why the government of Sudan might not focus on finding a way to offer these people some help and security.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, does America make a bigger deal out of these disorders, because we can?

Welcome.

My research will be aimed at mental health and suicide all over the world, specifically depression and bipolar disorder and related disorders. My research would cover the treatment available and different methods of treatment to people in different parts of the world and different classes. But most importantly I would focus on the way people with various disorders are viewed in society and the things they have to face in daily life. I also wanted to figure out what is being done, if anything, to help people with these disorders around the world that aren’t as fortunate as we are in the United States. Most cases probably go unnoticed in other parts of the world and the people with various mental conditions are forced to get by without help.