How young refugees’ traumatic pasts shape their mental health

How young refugees’ traumatic pasts shape their mental health



People wait outside an immigration office in Berlin. (Adam Berry/Getty)

Trauma scars migrants’ mental health

One of the largest and most detailed studies of psychological health in young refugees found that the violent and life-threatening events they often encounter add to their risk of developing psychiatric problems. The uncertainty and stress of navigating asylum systems in their host nations make matters even worse. Researchers worked with 133 apparently healthy young migrants, nearly one-third of whom travelled alone as children. Participants’ stories of trauma and abuse were so horrific that they left the researchers needing counselling themselves.

Nature | 4 min read