ESCAP for mental health of child and adolescent refugees: facing the challenge together, reducing risk, and promoting healthy development

Excerpt

Humanitarian emergencies such as war and armed conflict can have a direct impact on the psychosocial well-being and mental health of children and adults, along with the physical, environmental, and financial burden. Child refugees face intense psychological trauma, before, during, and after their flight, as a result of fleeing their homelands and entering into states of uncertainty, physical danger, and distress. They have experienced and witnessed violence, lost loved ones, faced deprivation, and been separated from their families. ESCAP has taken a clear position in the refugee crisis, standing up for the mental health and well-being of refugee children, adolescents, and their families. A Task Group initiated by board members within ESCAP has started to collect relevant knowledge and experience to support mental health workers involved with the care for refugee children and post on a dedicated website. The aim of the project “ESCAP for mental health of child and adolescent refugees” is to make available the necessary knowledge everywhere in Europe, where professionals and volunteers are helping these children and their families. All 33 National Associations of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, as ESCAP members, were called to defend the mental health of young refugees and to present the ESCAP position statement to their governments. The project members take the position of promoting the healthy adaptation of young refugees and their families to the new living circumstances and to lower the risk of developing mental health problems. Using our expertise and showing leadership in this situation are important and can prevent suffering: now and in the future. …