This book provides an overview of theoretical, empirical, and clinical conceptualizations of mental health following exposure to human rights violations (HRV). There are currently hundreds of millions of individuals affected by war and conflict across the globe, and over 68 million people who are forcibly displaced. The field of refugee and post-conflict mental health is growing exponentially, as researchers investigate the factors that impact on psychological disorders in these populations, and design and evaluate new treatments to reduce psychological distress. This volume will be a substantial contribution to the literature on mental health in refugee and post-conflict populations, as it details the state of the evidence regarding the mental health of war survivors living in areas of former conflict as well as refugees and asylum-seekers.

A comprehensive, best practices resource for public health and healthcare practitioners and students interested in humanitarian emergencies.

Print version originally published: Mahwah, NJ : Lawrence Erlbaum, 2004.

The focus of this Research Topic is on research that aims to understand the relationships between pre-migration stressors and potentially traumatic experiences, post-migration living difficulties, and mental health in refugees of both sexes throughout the lifespan. We know very little about how concepts of assessing and treating mental health conditions actually work when applied to traumatized refugee populations from different cultures (e.g., the Yazidis people from northern Iraq). Moreover, there is also a great need to better understand the relationship between mental health and refugees’ integration in their host countries’ societies (acquiring language skills, fitness for work, economic independence, private life, etc.). This Research Topic will also focus on the issue of culture—the extent to which concepts of mental health care can translate and be implemented in different social, economic, and cultural settings around the world.

This comprehensive reference book provides both background information and practical, clinical advice on all areas of nutrition for the cancer patient at all stages of their disease trajectory.

In February 2014, Russia initiated a war in Ukraine, its reasons for aggression unclear. Each of this volume's authors offers a distinct interpretation of Russia's motivations, untangling the social, historical, and political factors that created this war and continually reignite its tensions. What prompted President Vladimir Putin to send troops into Crimea? Why did the conflict spread to eastern Ukraine with Russian support? What does the war say about Russia's political, economic, and social priorities, and how does the crisis expose differences between the EU and Russia regarding international jurisdiction? Did Putin's obsession with his macho image start this war, and is it preventing its resolution? The exploration of these and other questions gives historians, political watchers, and theorists a solid grasp of the events that have destabilized the region.

This open access book provides an enriched understanding of historical, collective, cultural, and identity-related trauma, emphasising the social and political location of human subjects. It therefore presents a socio-ecological perspective on trauma, rather than viewing displaced individuals as traumatised “passive victims”. The vastness of the phenomenon of trauma among displaced populations has led it to become a critical and timely area of inquiry, and this book is an important addition to the literature. It gives an overview of theoretical frameworks related to trauma and migration—exploring factors of risk and resilience, prevalence rates of PTSD, and conceptualisations of trauma beyond psychiatric diagnoses; conceptualises experiences of trauma from a sociocultural perspective (including collective trauma, collective aspirations, and collective resilience); and provides applications for professionals working with displaced populations in complex institutional, legal, and humanitarian settings. It includes case studies based on the author’s own 10-year experience working in emergency contexts with displaced populations in 11 countries across the world. This book presents unique data collected by the author herself, including interviews with survivors of ISIS attacks, with an asylum seeker in Switzerland who set himself alight in protest against asylum procedures, and women from the Murle tribe affected by the conflict in South Sudan who experienced an episode of mass fainting spells. This is an important resource for academics and professionals working in the field of trauma studies and with traumatised groups and individuals.

Although forced migration is not new in human history it has become, in our time, one of the world's major problems. In the last few decades, armed conflict and political unrest have created vast numbers of asylum seekers, refugees and displaced persons. This has led, in turn to increasing involvement of professional care workers and agencies, both governmental and nongovernmental. While there is no doubt on the part of helping parties that care is necessary, there is considerable debate about the kind of care that is needed. This book presents a critical review of mental health care provisions for people who have had to leave their homeland, and explores the controversies surrounding this topic. Providing fresh perspectives on an age old problem, this book covers humanitarian aid and reconstruction programs as well as service provision in host countries. It is of interest to all those who provide health services, create policy, and initiate legislation for these populations.

This volume describes a variety of public mental health and psychosocial programs in conflict and post-conflict situations in Africa and Asia. Each chapter details the psychosocial and mental health aspects of specific conflicts and examines them within their sociopolitical and historical contexts. This volume will be of great interest to psychologists, social workers, anthropologists, historians, human rights experts, and psychiatrists working or interested in the field of psychotrauma.

A guide to the recognition and management of mental health problems in refugees and other displaced persons. Prepared by WHO in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the manual responds to growing awareness that the trauma, terror, loss and bereavement experienced by refugees can pose serious threats to their mental health. With this concern in mind, the manual aims to help non-specialist relief workers become alert to common mental health problems and competent in their management, whether involving simple relaxation exercises or referral to a medical specialist. The first training unit explains the basic principles of effective communication and sets out the steps to follow when developing a treatment plan. In view of the stress commonly experienced by refugees, the second unit describes several simple exercises that can help people relax, sleep better, and cope with stress. Functional complaints are covered in unit three, which includes advice on the difficult question of when to give medicines. Unit four provides a detailed guide to the recognition and management of common mental disorders. The most extensive chapter describes the special needs of refugee children, explains how to recognize their distinct mental health problems, and discusses the most appropriate types of help according to four age groups. Subsequent units offer guidance on the types of mental disorders that can be safely treated by traditional healers, and explain how to recognize and manage alcohol and other drug problems. The remaining units outline approaches for helping people who have experienced torture, other violence, or rape.