Mental health in Syria

Abou‐Saleh, Mohammed T.; Mobayed, Mamoun

doi:10.1192/s1749367600003854

Cited by 20 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Therefore, it is crucial to understand how Syrian refugees perceive and describe distress, since explanatory models of illness and health may explain how meaning is assigned to health attitudes and practices (Kleinman & Benson, 2006), as may considerations of social context and power structures (Kirmayer, 2006). Studies have found that Syrians consider stigma a barrier to care, along with a lack of services (Abou-Saleh & Mobayed, 2013). Explanations of distress may include belief in spirits and the evil eye, while many Syrians express emotional difficulties through metaphors that do not easily translate into symptoms in Western-based diagnostic categories (Hassan et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental Health Services for Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: Perceptions and Experiences of Professionals and Refugees

et al. 2020

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We applied semi-structured and in-depth interviews to explore the perceptions and experiences of 60 practitioners/policymakers and 25 Syrian participants involved in mental health services for refugees in Lebanon. Refugees were found to view their distress as a normal shared reaction to adversity while professionals perceived it as symptomatic of mental illness. Practitioners viewed Syrian culture as an obstacle to providing care and prioritized educating refugees about mental health conditions. Policymakers invoked the state of crisis to justify short-term interventions, while Syrian refugees requested community interventions and considered resettlement in a third country the only solution to their adverse living conditions. The therapeutic relationship seems threatened by mistrust, since refugees change their narratives as an adaptive mechanism in response to the humanitarian system, which professionals consider manipulative. We discuss the implications of our findings for mental health practice in humanitarian settings.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental Health Services for Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: Perceptions and Experiences of Professionals and Refugees

et al. 2020

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“…Seventy four per cent of these children had experienced the death of somebody they cared about and 50% had been exposed to six or more traumatic events. Mobayed ( 2014 ) (cited in Abou-Saleh & Mobayed, 2013 ) found that in two refugee camps the prevalence of PTSD among 129 Syrian children aged 10–16 years was 41%–76%; these rates were higher than those for adults (36%–62%).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Establishing the feasibility of assessing the mental health of children displaced by the Syrian conflict

et al. 2015

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Background.In the humanitarian crisis context of conflict zones, collecting data is essential for identifying and addressing the mental health needs of refugee children to avoid mass suffering. This study tested the feasibility of recruiting refugees caring for children and using established and brief parent-report questionnaires in a challenging context to collect mental health data on refugee children displaced by Syria's conflict.Methods.Caregivers of 4–10-year olds attending primary schools run by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Generation Freedom in and near refugee camps on the Syrian–Turkish border were invited to complete the Pediatric Emotional Distress Scale (PEDS) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).Results.It was possible to reach 144 adult refugees caring for children with research participation information and use informed consent procedures. A total of 106 caregivers completed the questionnaires yielding a good return rate (74%). Eighty-two (77.4%) caregivers had complete data on the PEDS and 61 (57.5%) on the SDQ. Almost half (49%) of the children met the clinical cut-off for being anxious/withdrawn and 62% for being fearful rated using the PEDS and 45% for SDQ rated emotional symptoms. More than a third had clinical levels of behavioural problems on both scales.Conclusions.It proved feasible to collect child mental health data in challenging conditions in the context of the Syrian crisis with support from a local NGO providing humanitarian assistance. The PEDS performed better than the SDQ in this context. High levels of emotional distress and behavioural problems in children reiterate the urgent need for evidence-based psychosocial support.

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“…For instance, the Syrian Ministry of Health provides treatment for mental illness and substance misuse in three hospitals: Ibn Sina Hospital (rural Damascus), Ibn Rushd Hospital (Damascus) and Ibn Khaldoun Hospital (Aleppo); the last was bombarded on 25 December 2012. 3 One million Syrians are estimated to suffer from severe psychiatric disorders, with only 80 psychiatrists working in Syrian territories (1 per 100 000 population) in 2018. 2,3 Assuming that psychiatrists work 5 days/ week for 52 weeks/year, and that each doctor can follow up on 15 patients/day and that they do not follow up on each patient >3 times/year, the total number of patients that the 80 psychiatrists can follow up on annually is 104 000; that leaves 90% of patients unattended, untreated and unmanaged.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…3 One million Syrians are estimated to suffer from severe psychiatric disorders, with only 80 psychiatrists working in Syrian territories (1 per 100 000 population) in 2018. 2,3 Assuming that psychiatrists work 5 days/ week for 52 weeks/year, and that each doctor can follow up on 15 patients/day and that they do not follow up on each patient >3 times/year, the total number of patients that the 80 psychiatrists can follow up on annually is 104 000; that leaves 90% of patients unattended, untreated and unmanaged. The combination of the above is set to overwhelm health services.…”

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confidence: 99%

Psychological health problems among Syrians during war and the COVID-19 pandemic: national survey

Mohsen¹,

Bakkar

Melhem

et al. 2021

BJPsych Int.

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This study aims to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 outbreak embedded within the war in Syria. A web-based cross-sectional survey design was employed. The 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale revealed a high prevalence of depressive (n = 3326; 83.4%) and anxiety symptoms (n = 2777; 69.6%) among the 3989 participants. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with depression and anxiety. There is an urgent need within the healthcare system in Syria to provide mental healthcare to alleviate acute mental health disturbances and associated physical health perceptions among Syrians.

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Mental health in Syria

Abstract: This paper begins by outlining the nature of the present conflict in Syria. It goes on to describe the psychological consequences of this conflict and the present state of the mental health services in the country.

Cited by 20 publications

References 4 publications

Mental Health Services for Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: Perceptions and Experiences of Professionals and Refugees

Mental Health Services for Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: Perceptions and Experiences of Professionals and Refugees

Establishing the feasibility of assessing the mental health of children displaced by the Syrian conflict

Psychological health problems among Syrians during war and the COVID-19 pandemic: national survey

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