Refugee Mental Health

by Aten, Jamie D.; Hwang, Jenny

• ISBN13: 9781433833724
• ISBN10: 1433833727
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2021-01-26
• Publisher: American Psychological Association

Summary

This book is an in-depth practical guide for mental health practitioners working across diverse theoretical orientations to provide mental health services tailored to the needs of refugees. 

These needs are felt more keenly than ever as displaced populations continue to grow. Refugees often experience high rates of psychological distress, and appropriate mental health care services remain severely underdeveloped. Chapters in this edited volume outline research-supported psychological interventions that can be used in a culturally sensitive manner. They cover important topics like cultural humility, issues in screening and assessments, and specific ethical dilemmas when working with refugees.

The book explores the ways in which Western interventions such as cognitive behavior therapy, group therapy, expressive therapy, and school-based programs have been adapted to serve resettled refugee populations. Strengths and limitations of these approaches as well as recommendations for incorporating more holistic frameworks in practice are discussed, providing mental health professionals with a better understanding of the psychological issues associated with the refugee experience and best practices for treatment. 

Author Biography

Jamie D. Aten, PhD, is the founder and executive director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute and associate professor and Blanchard Chair of the Humanitarian Disaster Leadership program at Wheaton College. He is a disaster psychologist and disaster ministry expert. He has received more than $6 million in grant funding to study disasters, trauma, and faith issues around the globe and has been recognized with APA's Division 36 (Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality) Margaret Gorman Early Career Award and the Mutual of America Merit Finalist Award. Aten also received the 2016 FEMA Community Preparedness Champion Award at the White House. He is the coeditor or coauthor of seven books, including 3 other APA titles. See www.jamieaten.com and @drjamieaten
 
Jenny Hwang, MA, is the managing director for the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College. She earned a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology from Boston College and a master’s in international disaster psychology from the University of Denver. As a mental health professional, Hwang has worked with refugees from Burma, Iraq, Syria, Nepal, North Korea, Somalia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Burundi. Her research interests include global mental health in context to disaster settings, human trafficking, cross-cultural communication, and refugee and immigrant mental health.  

Table of Contents

Contributors
1. Introduction to Refugee Mental Health
2. Primer on Understanding the Refugee Experience
3. Engaging Refugees With Cultural Humility
4. Ethical Considerations and Challenges in Working With Refugees
5. A Culturally Responsive Intervention for Modern-Day Refugees: A Multiphase Model of Psychotherapy, Social Justice, and Human Rights
6. Culturally Adapted Therapeutic Approaches: The Healing Environment and Restorative Therapy Model
7. Screening and Assessing Refugee Mental Health Needs
8. School-Based Mental Health Interventions and Other Therapies to Help Refugee Children Explore Previous Exposure to Trauma
9. Treatment for Refugee Children and Their Families
10. Peer Group and Community-Based Strategies for Supporting Refugee Mental Health
11. Integrating Indigenous and Traditional Practices in Refugee Mental Health Therapy
12. Research and Resources in Refugee Mental Health: Reflections and Future Directions
Moving Forward
Index
About the Editors