World Refugee Day - June 20, 2024
Strategies for Refugees to Overcome Trauma
Grace Initiative Global & the Harvard Program on Refugee Trauma
Norman Williams Library, Woodstock, VT
4:00-5:30 PM
The plight of refugees is not over even when they reach safe borders refugees. Their path for safety and security is laden with perilous challenges including criminality, discrimination, gender-based violence, environmental threats, and exclusion. In view of these terrifying challenges, refugees suffer from trauma, which can have long lasting effects on their physical health and mental health.[1] Our program will focus on refugees and strategies for trauma healing.
Once resettled in the US, refugees may face stressors accentuating trauma. Also, while their legal status may continue as refugee, they are newcomers in a new and foreign place, with other challenges as they as are seeking to resettle their lives in the US. Upon resettlement, newcomers confront potential marginalization, socio-economic disadvantages, acculturation difficulties, loss of cultural and social support, food insecurity and cultural bereavement.[2]
Despite the need, screening for newcomers upon arrival in the United States does not include assessment of exposure to trauma.[3] Also, newcomers may view mental health services suspiciously and not seek help. Some help-seeking barriers among newcomers, include access to service, misunderstandings due to cultural and language differences, and the perception of stigma associated with mental health.[4] To this end, our program will focus on strategies for trauma healing including food security and trauma informed care, leading to holistic well-being.
[1] Jason Ostrander, Alysse Melville & S. Megan Berthold, “Working with Refugees in the U.S.: Trauma-Informed and Structurally Competent Social Work Approaches,” Advances in Social Work Vol. 18 No. 1 (Spring 2017), 66-79. Accessed at https://brycs.org/clearinghouse/7757/.
[2] Ibid.2
[3] Ibid., 2.
[4] UNHCR. “Culture, context, and mental health of Rohingya refugees: A review for staff in mental health and psychosocial support programmes for Rohingya refugees.” Accessed at https: www.unhcr.org/5bbc6f014.pdf.