Refugee Mental Health

"By the time you've made your morning cup of coffee, 20 people around the world have been forcibly displaced as a result of conflict, war, or persecution". As they flee from danger, many leave behind material possessions such as their homes and belongings, and experience loss of immaterial resources such as an identity, sense of belonging, family, and social networks. In desperate need for refuge and protection, many look towards developed countries such as the United States for a new life. However, the current political climate of the United States has sent a unequivocal message to migrants of the world: you are not welcome here. Authors Dr. Claudia Interiano and Dr. Elvita Kondili, as immigrants and witnesses to refugees' experiences of exclusion and discrimination during resettlement, decided that a fundamental shift in the conversation around this population was needed. The message was simple: Systems needed to change and counselors were essential to the process.

This book takes a unique approach to refugee mental health, advocating for changes to the systemic, cultural, and societal factors that hinder or promote refugee mental health. Readers are first introduced to the current climate and theoretical grounding, and then presented with implementable and sustainable interventions for practice. Using the theory of social and cultural capital as well as case vignettes, this book provides counselors with the tools to acquire social and cultural capital in order to promote refugees' mental health and ability to thrive as citizens in today's society.