Current News
-
![]()
Millions displaced as Sudan war enters third year
15 April 2025
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
![]()
How to live with PTSD in Ukraine
11 June 2024
-
![]()
-
![]()
The 10 largest refugee crises to know in 2024
18 December 2023 -
![]()
-
![]()
Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2022
14 Jun 2023 -
![]()
Refugee and migrant health
2 May 2022 -
![]()
Forced displacement
Refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) -
![]()
Forced Displacement
Refugees, Internally Displaced and Host Communities -
![]()
Resources
Digital Mental Health Feasibility Studies
A feasibility study of a mental health mobile app in the Dominican Republic
Mobile health (mHealth) interventions include mental health apps (MHapps). There are hundreds of MHapps, which have been touted as a means of revolutionizing mental health care delivery.
Digital Storytelling
Storytelling as a tool: A family-based intervention for Syrian refugee children
With over 5 million individuals resettled worldwide, the stressors caused by the instability of the conflict and the resettlement process put refugee children at an especially high risk for mental health problems.
Digital Interventions & PTSD
Pilot Study German Soldiers with PTSD
The consideration of specific trauma-associated emotions poses a challenge for differential treatment planning in trauma therapy. Soldiers experiencing deployment-related posttraumatic stress disorder often struggle with emotions of guilt and shame as a component of their PTSD.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Digital-Based Interventions for Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - Review
Research has shown that cPTSD differs from PTSD on core symptoms relating to the individual’s sense of self, and this has driven the need for treatment approaches to address these specific features of cPTSD.
Integration Barriers Among Refugees
Economic Challenges to Ukrainian Refugee Integration
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has resulted in the displacement of millions of Ukrainians, leading to socio-economic and political challenges for the host countries. The Refugee Response Plan has been the focus of this study.
Traumatic Events and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
People may be diagnosed with PTSD if their symptoms last for an extended period after a traumatic event and begin to interfere with aspects of daily life. People who have PTSD may continue to feel stressed or frightened, even though they are not in danger.
Digital empowerment in mental health: A meta-analysis of internet-based interventions for enhancing mental health literacy
Leveraging Internet-based MHL interventions offers scalability and broader accessibility. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of Internet-based interventions in improving MHL.
Core Guide Pilot and Feasibility Studies
Recruitment and retention rates suggest that a trial in this outdoor setting with this population was feasible, but is weather sensitive. However, strategies to increase accelerometer wear-time would need to be implemented for reliable primary outcome data to be obtained.
Digital Storytelling & App Outcomes
Post-traumatic Growth
Peer Support Groups: Evaluating a Culturally Grounded, Strengths-Based Approach for Work With Refugees
The program presented focuses on using para-professionals, peer educators, from within refugee communities to build upon the Center for Torture and Trauma Survivors Clubhouse .
Framing the Ukrainian and Syrian Refugee Crises in Elite American Newspapers
This research comparatively examined coverage of the Syrian refugee crisis and the Ukrainian refugee crisis in five elite American daily papers. The study employed quantitative content analysis and was guided by framing theory.
Mental Health of Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Displaced & Temporarily Displaced People
Asylum seeker and refugee mental health
In 2020, 82 million people worldwide were displaced. In the same year, the UK received applications for asylum from over 37,500 people. Over 40% of those were women and children, and 8% were children who had arrived in the UK alone without a parent or guardian.
Research on Post-traumatic growth (PTG)
PTG refers to the positive psychological transformation that arises from facing trauma or exceedingly difficult circumstances. It's important to note that PTG isn't a replacement for the negative psychological effects of trauma; instead, it operates alongside them.
Smartphone App & Digital Mental Health Interventions
Smartphones for Smarter Delivery of Mental Health Programs: A Systematic Review
Mental health apps have the potential to be effective and may significantly improve treatment accessibility. However, the majority of apps that are currently available lack scientific evidence about their efficacy.
Smartphone Usage Among Refugees
Mental Health Facts on Refugees, Asylum-seekers & Survivors of Forced Displacement
The number of people displaced from their home countries due to war, armed conflict, political violence, and related threats is growing. If current trends continue, one in 100 persons will be a refugee in the near future.
Treatment for PTSD provides the opportunity to improve symptoms, personal and professional relationships, and quality of life
Treatment for PTSD provides the opportunity to improve symptoms, personal and professional relationships, and quality of life.
Can smartphone mental health interventions reduce symptoms of anxiety? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Recent studies have indicated that smartphone-supported interventions may reduce anxiety, although the role of mobile devices in the treatment of anxiety has yet to be established.
Well-being and PTG Among Syrian Refugees in Jordan
The ongoing Syrian crisis, which began in March 2011, has been called the greatest humanitarian catastrophe of the 21st century. Over 200,000 lives have been lost, while more than 1 million people have been injured.
Mobile mental health: Review of the emerging field and proof of concept study
The ubiquitous nature of mobile phones and their increasing functionality make them an ideal medium for the delivery of large-scale public health information and interventions.
Stigma & Help Seeking Behavior Among Refugees, Asylum Seekers & Immigrants
Stigma- and non-stigma-related treatment barriers to mental healthcare reported by service users and caregivers
Poor outcomes are associated with untreated mental illness. Caregivers may seek help on the service user's behalf. Attention has focused on the role of stigma in delayed treatment seeking.
Coping Strategies
A mixed methods systematic review of mental health self-care strategies for Arabic-speaking refugees and migrants
This mixed methods systematic review aimed to identify and synthesise the global research on mental health self-care strategies used by these populations.
The smartphone as a lifeline: an exploration of refugees’ use of mobile communication technologies during their flight
Focusing on the smartphone, our study distinguished 4 clusters of media U&G among the population: smartphone as a companion, an organizational hub, a lifeline, and diversion.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Perceived barriers and facilitators of mental health service utilization in adult trauma survivors: A systematic review
The review aimed to synthesize literature and to classify trauma survivors' perceived barriers regarding mental health service utilization.
Defining Feasibility and Pilot Studies in Preparation for Randomised Controlled Trials
We describe a framework for defining pilot and feasibility studies. To develop it, we undertook a Delphi survey, ran an open meeting at a trial methodology conference, conducted a review of definitions outside the health research context.
A narrative review of digital storytelling for social work practice
This article aims to provide a narrative review and derive a conceptualization that is in line with social work’s psychotherapeutic and systems orientation. The review has derived a two-layer conceptualization.
The Impact of an Insecure Asylum Status on Mental Health of Adult Refugees in Germany
Forcibly displaced people have a higher chance of developing PTSD. In addition to potentially traumatic events due to war, persecution, and flight, post-migration living stressors are an important influencing factor.
From struggle to strength in African and Middle Eastern newcomers to Canada
Newcomers face many personal, gender, cultural, environmental, and health system barriers when integrating into a new society. These struggles can affect their health and social care, reducing access to mental health care.
The prevalence of mental illness in refugees and asylum seekers: A systematic review and meta-analysis
This review aims to summarize the current body of evidence for the prevalence of mental illness in global refugee populations and overcome methodological limitations of individual studies.
Amygdala hyperactivity in PTSD: disentangling predisposing from consequential factors in a prospective longitudinal design
Identification of neurocognitive risk markers for PTSD symptoms could aid early assessment and identification of preventive intervention targets for PTSD, particularly in high-risk professionals.
Tell Your Story: A randomized controlled trial of an online intervention to reduce mental health stigma and increase help-seeking in refugee men with PTS
Mental health stigma is a barrier to help-seeking. We evaluated the efficacy of an intervention in increasing help-seeking in refugee men.
Adolescents accept digital mental health support in schools
Early intervention is important in order to improve mental health outcomes for young people. Given the recent rise in mobile phone ownership among adolescents, an innovative means of delivering such intervention is through the use of mobile phone applications (apps).
Exploring the Process of Digital Storytelling in Mental Health Research: A Process Evaluation of Consumer and Clinician Experiences
A process evaluation framework explores two digital storytelling workshops conducted with mental health consumers and clinicians.
The development of a smartphone app to enhance PTSD treatment in high-risk workers
PTSD is prevalent in certain populations. Evidence indicates that many individuals don’t respond to treatment. Digital supports hold promise for increasing service provision.
Social impact of migration- Addressing the challenges of receiving and integrating Ukrainian refugees
This report focuses on the challenges that the EU Member States and Norway face when receiving and integrating refugees who fled Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
The Social Determinants of Refugee Mental Health in the Post-Migration Context: A Critical Review
This review summarizes the findings of recent reviews and primary research on the impact of post-migration conditions on mental disorders and PTSD among refugees and asylum seekers.
What is PTSD?
It is important to note that not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, and not everyone who develops PTSD requires psychiatric treatment. For some people, symptoms of PTSD subside or disappear over time. Others get better with the help of their support system (family, friends, or clergy).
Help Lines
Many people go through traumatic experiences in their lives, and these are more common than most people realize. If you or anyone you know is going through a difficult time, seeking help is the best course of action; there is nothing to be worried about or ashamed of. Here are a few helplines to reach out to in Germany or in the US:
-
24/7 immediate assistance for acute mental emergencies.
☏ 0303906310 -
24/7 free and confidential emotional support helpline in German.
☏ 08001110111 or 08001110222 or 116123 -
Anonymous and free counseling for Ukrainian refugees.
☏ 08005002250 -
-
Online resources for Mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
-
-
24/7 psychological assistance and suicide prevention support.
☏ 800 702 222 -
Provides support for LGBTQIA+ individuals facing discrimination, mental health issues, and suicidal thoughts. Available Monday to Friday, 6 PM – 9 PM.
☏ 22 628 52 22 -
Provides free and confidential support for individuals in crisis, including psychological assistance.
☏ 22 270 11 65 -
24/7 free, confidential support for depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts; phone and SMS support.
☏ 89 527 00 00
-
24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention, and crisis resources.
-
-
24/7 support for victims and survivors of domestic violence.
☏ 1-800-799-7233 -
Culturally-appropriate helpline for Native Americans experiencing domestic violence.
☏ 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) -
Emotional support for anyone in distress or at risk of suicide.
☏ 1-877-870-4673 -
24/7 support for children, teens, and parents.
☏ 1-800-448-3000 -
-
National suicide prevention helpline.
☏ 7333 -
Mental health and psychosocial support.
☏ Varies by region -
Psychological counseling and trauma therapy, with focus on war survivors, veterans, and students.
☏ Varies by department