DOHUK, Iraq — Dr. Henrike Zellman, a psychologist working for Doctors Without Borders in the Domeez refugee camp in Iraq, says it best: “The mental health of the refugees is extremely fragile.” This is due in large part to the pain and disillusionment caused by the interminable conflict as well as the uncertainty that the refugees are living with on a daily basis.
What is the extent of the problem?
Many refugees are stuck in fight or flight mode, which means that their anxiety and attention levels remain highly alert the entire time they are awake — the source of exhaustion that eventually leads to mental breakdowns whereas equal concern can be shared to the exhibited signs of acute psychosis among many. One woman who came to Zellman’s clinic believed she was pregnant with eleven children.
Children have always been believed to be resilient in the face of trauma. However, the quiet boredom of life as a refugee is one of the greatest foes to their mental health. There are many cases of bedwetting, which is a common involuntary action of children under trauma. Tedium is the worst for girls, who stay at home for astounding durations. Conversely, boys are being forced into labor in order to survive, which contributes to delaying or entirely replacing their education. Parents are so worried about their children that “[a]lmost a third (29%) of children said they left their homes only once a week.”
Disconcerting on another level are the tales of torture, statistics show that “60% of refugees who attend hearing and eye exams and psychosocial programs, say they were tortured.” Stories abound of torturers breaking the bones of their victims; consequently, if a doctor sought to treat them the doctor would have his bones broken as well.
The extent of psychological trauma seems overwhelming. However, that does not stop people and organizations from trying to help.
What is Being Done?
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) runs a mental health program in the Domeez camp in Iraq that provides psychological assistance to refugees. The four counselors within Domeez work with doctors and community health workers to diagnose those in need and deliver mental health care, providing 70 to 100 sessions a week for individuals, families and groups. They also actively seek to help the isolated men in the camp who arrived at Domeez alone and do not have social support groups.
Certain individuals such as psychiatrist, James Gordon (Center for Mind Body Medicine), have made it their goal to educate refugees coping with mental health issues on ways they can break the pattern of their trauma. Gordon and his team seek to do so by teaching meditation techniques, encouraging various forms of self-expression and organizing group support.
One of the few positive sides of this crisis is that many Syrian refugees seem receptive, even enthusiastic, about trying to overcome their trauma.
Gordon conducted an experiment in which he challenged a torture victim named Hamid to laugh. He acknowledged Hamid’s pain but explained that in the fight to break free of the trap of his pain, laughter may prove a strong ally. Though hesitant at first, Hamid ended up barking deep guttural laughter, as did the rest of the group in attendance.
These small victories are so important to cherish and use as a foundation for climbing out of trauma.
Often, the first steps are the most difficult. It takes great organizations like Doctors Without Borders and individuals like James Gordon in order to help shake refugees experiencing mental problems out of their past pain and into a new future. Aid is the only way to ensure that desperately needed health care can assist Syrian refugees to step out of the past and reach for this future.
– Jordan Schunk
Sources: The Atlantic, The Guardian, The Toronto Star, Doctors Without Borders
Photo: The Guardian