Abstract
The aim of this paper is to highlight some of the difficulties that mental health providers face when trying to provide the best standard of mental healthcare to refugees, especially in countries where the political environment is skeptic of, or even hostile to, creating programs specifically designed to improve the standard of living of this population. We also focus briefly on the dichotomy between the need to do research in this population in order to obtain data that will help us offer the best care possible to them, and the peril of undermining their autonomy by subjecting them to studies they might have otherwise refused to be part of, if they were in a less precarious position. Throughout the article, we offer practical advice that mental healthcare providers can follow to ensure that they are offering the best possible care to their patients while remaining respectful of their rights.
 Keywords: Mental health providers; Mental healthcare; Refugees.
Highlights
The United Nations Refugee Agency provides stunning statistics about the number of refugees around the world
Refugees are defined by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as those “...who are outside their country of nationality or habitual residence and unable to return there owing to serious and indiscriminate threats to life, physical integrity or freedom resulting from generalized violence or events seriously disturbing public order” [2]. 84% of the refugees, about 14.5 million people, are being hosted in developing regions
The aim of this paper is to highlight some of the difficulties that mental health providers face when trying to provide the best standard of mental healthcare to refugees, especially in countries where the political environment is skeptic of, or even hostile to, creating programs designed to improve the standard of living of this population
Summary
The United Nations Refugee Agency provides stunning statistics about the number of refugees around the world. The global refugee population is the highest on record. Refugees are defined by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as those “...who are outside their country of nationality or habitual residence and unable to return there owing to serious and indiscriminate threats to life, physical integrity or freedom resulting from generalized violence or events seriously disturbing public order” [2]. 84% of the refugees, about 14.5 million people, are being hosted in developing regions. Turkey is the largest host of refugees worldwide, with 2.9 million people, followed by Pakistan, with 1.4 million, and Lebanon, with 1 million. Europe hosts 17% of this population, and the Americas 16% [1]
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