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. The availability
of such literature and research findings is significant in understanding the 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.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 14, 2022
Accepted:
May 2,
2022
Received in revised form:
April 5,
2022
Received:
January 13,
2022
Identification
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© 2022 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
