ABSTRACT
Conflict and climate change continue to displace millions of people who experience
unique trauma and stressors as they resettle in host countries. Both children and
adults who are forcibly displaced, or choose to migrate, experience posttraumatic
stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions at higher
rates than the general population. This may be attributed to severe, cumulative stress
and trauma (largely interpersonal traumas), discrimination and harassment in host
countries, and structural barriers to accessing and addressing mental health concerns,
including clinician availability, language barriers, cultural differences, geographic
accessibility, health care access, and stigma. Despite high exposure to and clinical
impact of such experiences, and despite representing 1% of the world population, forcibly
displaced people are underrepresented in neuroscientific research. Availability of
such literature and research findings is significant in understanding unique genetic
and cultural aspects of trauma and stress-related mental health, advocacy, reducing
stigma, informing prevention, and treatment. The present work aimed to explore how
the field of neuroscience can address mental health equity for individuals who have
been uprooted in relation to land, with a focus on refugee populations. We offer practical
suggestions on how to improve research in this area and narrow the gap in knowledge.
Key Words
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
May 2,
2022
Received in revised form:
April 5,
2022
Received:
January 13,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofFootnotes
Disclosures
The authors report no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest.
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© 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc on behalf of Society of Biological Psychiatry.
