A comprehensive overview of Syrian refugees' mental health

• Main Author: Temple, Cooper Philip
• Other Authors: Ghosn, Faten
• Language: en_US
• Published: The University of Arizona. 2017
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/626803; http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/626803

The Syrian Civil War has led to a devastating refugee crisis unlike any seen in modern history. Millions of people have fled their country and resettled elsewhere, either in refugee camps or host communities. While much of the international focus is on their physical conditions, little attention and funding have been given to the mental health needs of the Syrian refugees. Although ensuring their safety and physical well-being is of primary importance, addressing mental health needs to be better prioritized to avoid the development of significant problems in the future. This paper discusses the significance of the mental health problem in the broader context of the crisis overall, examines the current methods being utilized and their drawbacks, provides a case study of three local refugee organizations, and finally, highlights other programs experiencing success to identify potential opportunities for improvement of care.