United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) defines refugees as people who are outside their country and cannot return due to a well-founded fear of persecution. They then seek safety in another state by applying for 'asylum', the right to receive legal protection and assistance (UNHCR, 2007). Underage refugees can be defined as 'unaccompanied asylum seeker children' (UASC) when they are separated from both parents and are not being cared for by any other adult who is legally responsible to do so (UNHCR, 1994). These refugee minors are a vulnerable group who are exposed to multiple traumatic events such as persecution, sexual maltreatment, imprisonment, torture, losses and other extreme traumatic events witnessed in their own country (Bean, Derluyn, Eurelings
Refugees and asylum seekers experience throughout their lives numerous losses of various nature. Treating mental health among these communities is challenging owing to language and cultural barriers. In addition, there are specific stressors associated with migration and settlement to be considered. This paper explores the use of the model 'continuing bonds' (CB) in two case studies as a form of enquiry. The authors draw upon social constructionist and narrative ideas to provide an enquiry approach that enables clinicians to understand and respond to the numerous losses of one's culture and relationships as a result of migratory grief. This is an emerging enquiry model based on the authors' work with unaccompanied minors which professionals can make use of in responding promptly and treating mental health difficulties within this population, drawing upon both past and present relationships.
Adopted children are a vulnerable group that have often experienced multiple traumatic events such as maltreatment, neglect and the perpetuation of abuse. These early traumatic experiences can result in compromised resilience which impacts both psychological and biological development (Cicchetti & Banny, 2014). This study used the systemic model approach, method and technique to gain an understanding of the complexity of presentation and formulation being made (Harris & Burnham, 1985). It also expanded on an early intervention sports protocol, named fast feet forward, that was previously used with unaccompanied asylum‐seeking minors with significant results. The use of running as a bilateral stimulus resulted in a rise in VOC (validity of cognition) and a reduction in SUD (subjective units of distress) scores, both after a single session and after 12 sessions. The data reported from this study replicated the previous findings of Draper et al., 2020) and showed the benefits of using fast feet forward with adopted children. The results further evidence the potential efficacy of this protocol for adopted children displaying complex trauma and show promising results for future enquiry. Future research should aim to replicate these findings with a larger sample size.
Disturbed sleep patterns, semi-starvation symptoms, loss of hope, and trauma symptomatology are often co-occurring clinical concerns for professionals working with unaccompanied minors. Delivering mental health treatment in such a context can be extremely challenging owing to the complexity of this multiple presentation. The early intervention framework described in this chapter provides an innovative model of clinical work with unaccompanied minors who have experienced, and continue to experience, ongoing traumas. This intervention is distinct in that its focus is on developing and embedding a framework of competencies that can inform practice among different professionals involved. The chapter delineates four main interventions that are tools aimed to promote young people’s resilience and well-being.
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