Re: Syrian refugees in Lebanon find it hard to access healthcare, says charity
Thousands of civilians have still been refuging to neighboring countries due to violence and life issues since March 15, 2011 which is the date accepted as the beginning of Syrian Civil War. Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Armenia and Kurdistan Regional Government are among the leading countries of asylum (1).
Turkey is being on a key point for the Syrian refugees. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of refugees in Turkey is expected to be more than 500,000 in 2013. A total of 15 tent cities, 1 temporary reception center and 5 containers were established in order to meet the needs of refugees other than those living in the city by renting a house (Table 1). All the coordination in container towns and tent cities is provided by the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of the Prime Ministry, responsible institution (2).
In the academic literature, mental health of refugees has attracted more attention than studies conducted on economic integration of refugees, their social identities or adaptations (3). Severe traumatic events, death, serious injuries are seen frequently in refugees (4) and prevalence of psychiatric disorders is accepted to be significantly high among refugees. Depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder are the most frequently seen psychiatric disorders. With guidance of literature, various studies are carried out in camps in our country by Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University.
In the light of this research, existing psychiatric disorders will be identified much more clearly. According to preliminary data, the refugees are seriously in need of psychiatric treatment and care. In this context, we have been working on additional projects that can be carried out with a university abroad and several charities, as Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University.
References
1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugees_of_the_Syrian_civil_war (accessed September 19, 2013).
2) https://www.afad.gov.tr/TR/IcerikDetay1.aspx?ID=16&IcerikID=747 (accessed September 20, 2013).
3) Ryan, D., Dooley, B., & Benson, C. (2008). Theoretical Perspectives on Post-Migration Adaptation and Psychological Well-Being among Refugees: Towards a Resource-Based Model. Journal of Refugee Studies, 21(1), 1-18.
4) Rebecca Meghan Davis, Henry Davis. PTSD symptom changes in refugees: TORTURE Volume 16, Number 1, 2006
Competing interests:
No competing interests
07 October 2013
Gokay Alpak
Psychiatrist
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Gaziantep University
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Gaziantep University 27310 Gaziantep/TURKEY
Rapid Response:
Re: Syrian refugees in Lebanon find it hard to access healthcare, says charity
Thousands of civilians have still been refuging to neighboring countries due to violence and life issues since March 15, 2011 which is the date accepted as the beginning of Syrian Civil War. Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Armenia and Kurdistan Regional Government are among the leading countries of asylum (1).
Turkey is being on a key point for the Syrian refugees. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of refugees in Turkey is expected to be more than 500,000 in 2013. A total of 15 tent cities, 1 temporary reception center and 5 containers were established in order to meet the needs of refugees other than those living in the city by renting a house (Table 1). All the coordination in container towns and tent cities is provided by the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of the Prime Ministry, responsible institution (2).
In the academic literature, mental health of refugees has attracted more attention than studies conducted on economic integration of refugees, their social identities or adaptations (3). Severe traumatic events, death, serious injuries are seen frequently in refugees (4) and prevalence of psychiatric disorders is accepted to be significantly high among refugees. Depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder are the most frequently seen psychiatric disorders. With guidance of literature, various studies are carried out in camps in our country by Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University.
In the light of this research, existing psychiatric disorders will be identified much more clearly. According to preliminary data, the refugees are seriously in need of psychiatric treatment and care. In this context, we have been working on additional projects that can be carried out with a university abroad and several charities, as Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University.
References
1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugees_of_the_Syrian_civil_war (accessed September 19, 2013).
2) https://www.afad.gov.tr/TR/IcerikDetay1.aspx?ID=16&IcerikID=747 (accessed September 20, 2013).
3) Ryan, D., Dooley, B., & Benson, C. (2008). Theoretical Perspectives on Post-Migration Adaptation and Psychological Well-Being among Refugees: Towards a Resource-Based Model. Journal of Refugee Studies, 21(1), 1-18.
4) Rebecca Meghan Davis, Henry Davis. PTSD symptom changes in refugees: TORTURE Volume 16, Number 1, 2006
Competing interests: No competing interests