Refugee Status Determination Procedure and Mental Health of the Applicant: Dynamics and Reciprocal Effects

Marković, Maša Vukčević; Kovačević, Nikola; Bjekić, Jovana

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.587331

Cited by 3 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…Moreover, numerous factors introduced by the sociopolitical context represent under-researched areas and are typically not accounted for in MHPSS. These include, but are not limited to, border-related violence, pushbacks, the undesired extension of time spent in transit, high level of uncertainty, lack of legal and safe pathways for refugees, unpredictability and unfairness of migration procedures, police violence and exposure to violence from criminal groups, and stress surrounding the asylum procedure, including potential retraumatization [ 50 ] and the low likelihood of obtaining asylum. These findings largely align with past work on social determinants of health, which has demonstrated that the environmental conditions in which people live, shaped by systemic inequities and structural violence, can impact health between and within societies [ 51 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additional challenges to traditional MHPSS practice stem from other characteristics of the transit context and the population in question, including the high prevalence of mental health difficulties that have been identified in refugee populations [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ] due to continuous exposure to stressful and traumatic experiences [ 7 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ], the role of interpreters and cultural mediators in providing care [ 27 , 28 ], ethical dilemmas in conducting research [ 29 ], and a deficit of cultural understanding in MHPSS treatments [ 30 ]. Finally, it is important to investigate to what extent existential threats, including numerous legal and socio-economic issues refugees are facing [ 16 ], may limit the overall effectiveness of MHPSS interventions [ 31 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mental Health in the Transit Context: Evidence from 10 Countries

Gargano

Ajduković

Marković

2022

IJERPH

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Most interventions for mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) have been developed in contexts and with populations that differ significantly from the realities of migration. There is an urgent need for MHPSS in transit; however, transit-specific aspects of MHPSS provision are often neglected due to the inherent challenges transit poses to traditional conceptualizations of practice. The Delphi method, which consisted of three iterative rounds of surveys, was applied with the goal of identifying challenges to and adaptations of MHPSS in the transit context. Twenty-six MHPSS providers working with refugees in 10 European transit countries participated; 69% of participants completed all three survey rounds. There was consensus that a flexible model of MHPSS, which can balance low intensity interventions and specialized care, is needed. Agreement was high for practice-related and sociopolitical factors impacting MHPSS in transit; however, the mandate of MHPSS providers working in the transit context achieved the lowest consensus and is yet to be defined. There is a need to rethink MHPSS in the refugee transit context. Providing MHPSS to refugees on the move has specificities, most of which are related to the instability and uncertainty of the context. Future directions for improving mental health protection for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in transit are highlighted.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental Health in the Transit Context: Evidence from 10 Countries

Gargano

Ajduković

Marković

2022

IJERPH

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“…By the end of 2021, the global refugee population was 27.1 million, the highest recorded number so far (UNHCR, 2021a ). Numerous studies have documented the stressful and traumatic experiences refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants 1 are exposed to in their countries of origin (Opaas & Varvin, 2015 ; Priebe et al, 2016 ; Vukčević et al, 2016a ; Vukčević Marković et al, 2017 ), including witnessing the death or murder of a family member or friend, torture, and physical abuse as the most common ones (Montgomery & Foldspang, 1994 ; Vukčević Marković et al, 2017 ). Moreover, they often face extreme economic difficulties, a lack of drinking water, food, shelter, and other basic resources (Bhugra, 2004 ; Priebe et al, 2016 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, research conducted in countries along the transit routes has indicated that ‘life on the road’ is particularly dangerous due to the risk of kidnapping, detention, and torture by smugglers, sexual and labour exploitation, human trafficking, and physical abuse by the government officials (Bjertrup et al, 2018 ; Crepet et al, 2017 ; CRPC, 2019 ). A study from Serbia showed that over 80% of refugees were in a life-threatening situation during transit and that refugees, during their journey, experience an average of ten traumatic experiences (Vukčević Marković et al, 2017 ). These most often include traumatic experiences related to smugglers, severe bodily injuries, death of a close person, discrimination by the local population, lack of water, food and shelter, and separation from family members (Purić & Vukčević Marković, 2019 ; Vukčević et al, 2014 ; Vukčević Marković et al, 2017 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A study from Serbia showed that over 80% of refugees were in a life-threatening situation during transit and that refugees, during their journey, experience an average of ten traumatic experiences (Vukčević Marković et al, 2017 ). These most often include traumatic experiences related to smugglers, severe bodily injuries, death of a close person, discrimination by the local population, lack of water, food and shelter, and separation from family members (Purić & Vukčević Marković, 2019 ; Vukčević et al, 2014 ; Vukčević Marković et al, 2017 ). A study conducted in Turkey also reports on the presence of violence against refugees (Ben Farhat et al, 2017 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The effects of traumatic experiences during transit and pushback on the mental health of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants

Marković

Bobić

Živanović

2023

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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Background: There are 26 million people recognised as refugees worldwide. Many of them spent a prolonged period of time in transit – time after they leave their country of origin and before they reach the receiving country. Transit brings numerous protection and mental health risks refugees are exposed to. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the stressful and traumatic experiences refugees are exposed to during transit, with a special focus on the experience of pushback – the denial of access to the territory to foreign nationals and forcible return to countries of origin or neighbouring countries without an assessment of their rights to international protection, as well as the impact of these experiences on refugees’ mental health and well-being. Method: 201 refugees currently residing in Serbia completed the Stressful and Traumatic Experiences in Transit questionnaire – short version (SET-SF), questionnaire for assessing stressful and traumatic experiences during pushback (SET-SF PB), Refugee Health Screener (RHS-15), and Well-being index (WHO-5). Results: The results showed that refugees experience a large number of stressful and traumatic events ( M = .27, SD = .85). In addition, half of the participants experience severe symptoms of depression (50.7%), while about a third of the participants experience severe symptoms of anxiety (37.8%) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (32.3%). Refugees who experienced pushback showed overall higher levels of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Traumatic experiences during transit and pushback were positively related to the severity of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. In addition, traumatic experiences during pushback showed an incremental contribution in predicting refugees’ mental health difficulties over and above traumatic experiences in transit. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into the multiple risks refugees are exposed to and emphasise the need for the provision of adequate protection and support.

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‘Your heart is resting and pumping at the same time’: Mental health impact of seeking asylum among sexual minority men

Gottvall,

Isaac,

Ainembabazi

et al. 2024

Scand J Public Health

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Aims: To explore the experiences of seeking asylum and its impact on mental health among sexual minority forced migrant cisgender men living in Sweden. Methods: Exploratory qualitative study based on individual semi-structured interviews with 15 adult gay and bisexual cisgender men recruited via a combination of purposeful, convenience and snowball sampling. Data were analysed with systematic text condensation through a collaborative approach with three migrants with lived experience. Results: Seeking asylum had been an emotionally challenging journey for the participants in this study, involving several procedures that negatively impacted mental health. Being expected to disclose intimate information during asylum interviews had been a significant challenge, alongside needing to wait through long periods in uncertainty with little information about the progress of their asylum case. The behaviours and attitudes of professionals involved in the legal procedures had been a central aspect, as participants encountered interpreters and caseworkers who acted disrespectful and homophobic during asylum interviews. Participants mentioned that the behaviours of interpreters and the accuracy of the interpretation could influence the outcome of asylum claims and how comfortable they felt in sharing information. Thus, participants emphasized the importance of adequate and accurate interpreter services. Conclusions: Sexual minority men are faced with an unfamiliar and emotionally challenging position when seeking asylum and undergoing asylum interviews. The findings highlight the importance of adequate competence among professionals involved in asylum interviews, including interpreter utilization. Research is needed to determine effective methods to support these men throughout their asylum process.

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Refugee Status Determination Procedure and Mental Health of the Applicant: Dynamics and Reciprocal Effects

Cited by 3 publications

References 35 publications

Mental Health in the Transit Context: Evidence from 10 Countries

Mental Health in the Transit Context: Evidence from 10 Countries

The effects of traumatic experiences during transit and pushback on the mental health of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants

‘Your heart is resting and pumping at the same time’: Mental health impact of seeking asylum among sexual minority men

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