The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services Center in Khanke and Essayan camps in Northern Iraq provide essential counseling and assistance to camp residents. A recent report reviews some of the cases psychologists treat, and the sources of treatment they use.
That report, generated by consultant psychiatrist Dr. Adnan of the Health Care Unit in Essayan camp, states that in general, patients suffer from concerns for “loss of their family, distribution of dread, and apprehension.”
The report includes case studies of several patients treated at the Center. Ranging in age from 15 to 50 years, these female and male patients displayed a wide variety of mental health issues including anxiety, divorce repercussions, academic failure anxiety, poor living conditions, depression, loneliness, unsuccessful relationships, past trauma, eating and sleep disturbances, excessive fear of the environment, negative perceptions, excessive nervousness, and a lack of feeling at home.
All patients were carefully diagnosed, and then an individualized regimen was set up. Some required drug treatment, and individual sessions were undertaken for all of them.
Over time, improvements were detected in all featured patients.
Additionally, the Center provided mental health awareness lectures to more than 100 residents and made outreach visits to 190 families.
The report concludes that the objective to provide psychological support to reduce the numbers of those suffering from psychosocial conditions is being met.
Mental health issues are acute in the unsettled environs of refugee camps. AMAR ICF’s work in these settings is critical to the mental well being of those living there, including not only the afflicted, but also their families.
Please consider assisting us in providing this life-saving effort to bring relief in a very individual way to those who suffer from the trauma of living in exceptionally difficult circumstances.
To make a donation click here: https://usfriendsofamar.org/make-a-donation/