A new study reveals the struggles of refugees who entered the UK as unaccompanied minors, highlighting the need for social connection and support to cope with trauma and distress.
Refugees who entered the UK as unaccompanied minors have revealed the hidden trauma they face in their daily lives. A new study from the University of East Anglia has shed light on the struggles of these young refugees, who have endured family separation, human rights abuses, and violence. The research, which interviewed 12 refugees who fled Afghanistan as children, shows that many have been exposed to traumatic events on their journey to the UK and are more likely to struggle with mental health issues such as PTSD and depression.
The study's lead author, Dr. Rebecca Lane, carried out the research while she was a trainee clinical psychologist at the University of East Anglia's Norwich Medical School. She found that the refugees' difficulties often overlapped or built on one another, making it harder for them to find strategies that really helped. For example, mental and physical pain often occurred together, with physical pain stopping people from leaving the house, exercising, or spending time with friends, which then made their mental health and feelings of isolation worse.
To cope with their distress, many of the refugees kept busy to distract their minds from the past. However, a small minority described using alcohol and engaging in self-harm, which the researchers say indicates the depth of distress that many carry. Social connection emerged as the single most powerful buffer against distress, with activities like cricket, praying, or having conversations with friends easing the relentless churn of anxiety and distressing thoughts or memories.
Despite the importance of social connection, many of the refugees described feeling isolated and lonely, with difficulties in trusting others, hypervigilance, or not having the social skills to develop friendships. The researchers found that this emotional "shutdown" often continued as the refugees settled down in the UK, leaving them socially isolated at the very time they most needed support. Therapists and professionals played a crucial role in providing a safe space for the refugees to talk about their feelings and be more open, positioning themselves as pseudo-parental figures who cared for them and taught them key skills to build relationships and navigate life independently.
The study's findings highlight the need for social connection and support to help refugees cope with trauma and distress. Dr. Kenny Chiu, a clinical lecturer from the University of East Anglia's Norwich Medical School, emphasized that unaccompanied child refugees have lost family, safety, and a sense of home, and many have been exposed to traumatic events on their journey. He stressed that more research is needed to understand how former unaccompanied child refugees from the same cultural background cope with a new life in the UK.
The study's results have significant implications for the support and care of refugees in the UK. Sheila Melzak, a consultant child and adolescent psychotherapist, young refugees need space to reflect on experiences that were initially unspeakable, including grief at the loss of parents, experiences of violence, corruption, and human rights abuses. The researchers hope that their study will raise awareness about the struggles faced by refugees and the importance of providing them with the support and care they need to rebuild their lives.
