According to The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), an estimated 117.3 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide in 2023. This number roughly breaks down into 68.3 million internally displaced persons; 31.6 million refugees under the UNHCR mandate; 6.9 million asylum seekers; 6 million refugees under the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East; and 5.8 million of others in need of international protection. Shifts in migration patterns, change in climate, social inequities compounded by health disparities, and overall environments marked by poverty and violence greatly impact the health of immigrants. Im/migrants tend to face a range of mental health and physical challenges. They are at heightened risk of isolation discrimination, exclusion, exploitation, trafficking, detention and deportation.
Globally, we are living in a time of great division and turmoil with regard to the plight of immigrants and refugees. Politics of fear and xenophobia bring great distortion to our communities, and make even the most basic acts of humanity more of an exception than the norm. Regardless of an immigrant's particular path into the host county, all of this as well as fear for personal safety, loss of control over their circumstances, and uncertainty about the future can contribute to anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health symptoms—often persisting long after their arrival. This presentation will illuminate ways clinicians and advocates can work to provide care that focuses on cultural adaptation, trauma-informed care, and accessibility.