Mental health of migrants with pre-migration exposure to armed conflict: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Mesa-Vieira, Cristina; Haas, Andreas D; Buitrago-Garcia, D.; Roa‐Díaz, Zayne Milena; Minder, Beatrice; Gamba, Magda; Salvador, Dante; Gómez, Daniel Ibarra; Lewis, Meghann; Gonzalez-Jaramillo, Wendy C; Mortanges, Aurélie Pahud de; Buttia, Chepkoech; Muka, Taulant; Trujillo, Natalia; Franco, Oscar H.

doi:10.1016/s2468-2667(22)00061-5

Cited by 72 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 68 publications

(113 reference statements)

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“…While PTSD is often known as the main outcome, depression and anxiety are other very common disabling consequences. Depending on the context, prevalence ranges largely across studies (Mesa-Vieira et al, 2022 ). However, average estimates suggest about a third of refugees pass the diagnostic threshold for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety (Mesa-Vieira et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Mental Health Impact Of War Trauma Exposure and Displacementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Depending on the context, prevalence ranges largely across studies (Mesa-Vieira et al, 2022 ). However, average estimates suggest about a third of refugees pass the diagnostic threshold for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety (Mesa-Vieira et al, 2022 ). While data specific to the current conflict are missing, one previous large study of internally displaced Ukrainians suggests similar impact among them (Shevlin et al, 2018 ).…”

Section: Mental Health Impact Of War Trauma Exposure and Displacementmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Addressing war trauma in Ukrainian refugees before it is too late

Javanbakht

2022

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to one of the largest refugee crises in recent history. Many internally displaced Ukrainians and refugees will need care for PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Here I will suggest practical steps to reduce long-term impact of trauma and stress on refugees’ mental and physical health, and functioning. These include mental health first aid in acute phase of arrival, education of mental health and navigating healthcare system in the host countries. As well, training of manualized trauma-focused therapy and intervention methods in the host countries, focused education for physicians on psychopharmacological interventions for common mental health issues among refugees (PTSD, depression, anxiety), and utilization of videoconferencing for treatment, and consultation and supervision for providers. Highlights Many internally displaced Ukrainians and refugees will need care for PTSD, anxiety, and depression to prevent long-term disability and health consequences. There are challenges in receiving the needed care including stigma, lack of awareness by patients and providers, lack of resources, and lack of skills in trauma-focused treatments. In this article, suggestions are made on how to overcome these obstacles, that include mental health first aid upon arrival, education for refugees and those serving them, training providers at different layers, and remote treatment and counselling/supervision services.

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Section: Mental Health Impact Of War Trauma Exposure and Displacementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Mental Health Impact Of War Trauma Exposure and Displacementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing war trauma in Ukrainian refugees before it is too late

Javanbakht

2022

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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“…Epidemiological studies have documented that pre, during, and post migration stressors and potentially traumatic events are responsible for a high prevalence of psychological distress and mental health conditions in migrant populations, with differences related to reasons for migration, number and type of traumatic events, and time since resettlement ( 14 – 18 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of a stepped-care programme of WHO psychological interventions in migrant populations resettled in Italy: Study protocol for the RESPOND randomized controlled trial

Purgato

Turrini

Tedeschi

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

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IntroductionMigrant populations, including workers, undocumented migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, internationally displaced persons, and other populations on the move, are exposed to a variety of stressors and potentially traumatic events before, during, and after the migration process. In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic has represented an additional stressor, especially for migrants on the move. As a consequence, migration may increase vulnerability of individuals toward a worsening of subjective wellbeing, quality of life, and mental health, which, in turn, may increase the risk of developing mental health conditions. Against this background, we designed a stepped-care programme consisting of two scalable psychological interventions developed by the World Health Organization and locally adapted for migrant populations. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of this stepped-care programme will be assessed in terms of mental health outcomes, resilience, wellbeing, and costs to healthcare systems.Methods and analysisWe present the study protocol for a pragmatic randomized study with a parallel-group design that will enroll participants with a migrant background and elevated level of psychological distress. Participants will be randomized to care as usual only or to care a usual plus a guided self-help stress management guide (Doing What Matters in Times of Stress, DWM) and a five-session cognitive behavioral intervention (Problem Management Plus, PM+). Participants will self-report all measures at baseline before random allocation, 2 weeks after DWM delivery, 1 week after PM+ delivery and 2 months after PM+ delivery. All participants will receive a single-session of a support intervention, namely Psychological First Aid. We will include 212 participants. An intention-to-treat analysis using linear mixed models will be conducted to explore the programme's effect on anxiety and depression symptoms, as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire—Anxiety and Depression Scale summary score 2 months after PM+ delivery. Secondary outcomes include post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, resilience, quality of life, resource utilization, cost, and cost-effectiveness.DiscussionThis study is the first randomized controlled trial that combines two World Health Organization psychological interventions tailored for migrant populations with an elevated level of psychological distress. The present study will make available DWM/PM+ packages adapted for remote delivery following a task-shifting approach, and will generate evidence to inform policy responses based on a more efficient use of resources for improving resilience, wellbeing and mental health.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04993534.

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“…To date, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees provided a survey of the profile and intentions of Ukrainian refugees in six European Union countries [9] and an online survey provides estimates of the labor market prospects of Ukrainian refugees in Germany [10]. Results of a recent meta-analysis of the mental health of forced migrants (refugees and internally displaced individuals) urge to assess mental health needs right after resettlement [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental Health and Stress Level of Ukrainians Seeking Psychological Help Online

Noha

Asanov

Buenstorf

2022

Preprint

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We screen the mental well-being and psychological distress of 1165 refugees, migrants, internally displaced, and non-displaced people from Ukraine who seek psychological help online in Ukraine and across 24 countries of the European Union. We see that more than half of the respondents exhibit low levels of mental well-being and high psychological distress, with 81% being at risk of depression and 57% having severe psychological distress. Refugees and internally displaced people in our sample show a particularly high risk of depression and severe psychological distress. Nevertheless, the majority of Ukrainians seeking psychological help still work, study, or volunteer, and those who do have relatively alleviated mental levels of well-being.

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Mental health of migrants with pre-migration exposure to armed conflict: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Cited by 72 publications

References 68 publications

Addressing war trauma in Ukrainian refugees before it is too late

Addressing war trauma in Ukrainian refugees before it is too late

Effectiveness of a stepped-care programme of WHO psychological interventions in migrant populations resettled in Italy: Study protocol for the RESPOND randomized controlled trial

Mental Health and Stress Level of Ukrainians Seeking Psychological Help Online

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