Thread: Many Immigrants Seeking U.S. Asylum Suffer PTSD

Many Immigrants Seeking U.S. Asylum Suffer From Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, Advocates Say
Main Category: Anxiety / Stress
Also Included In: Depression; Psychology / Psychiatry; Public Health
Article Date: 11 Mar 2009 - 3:00 PDT



Many immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S. have post-traumatic stress disorder and those with severe cases "can be in denial about what happened to them" in their home countries, "avoid overwhelming memories, or refuse treatment because of lingering fears of past dealings with powerful institutions," according to advocates, the Boston Globe reports. As of December 2007, about 151,200 people in the U.S. were classified as refugees and seeking asylum, according to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.

PTSD and depression are prevalent among asylum seekers who have fled war, torture or other trauma in their home countries, according to the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights. PTSD "complicates immigrants' quest to gain asylum ... because of the difficulty sufferers may have in recounting their stories and making them credible before an immigration court," the Globe reports. Sometimes multiple therapy sessions are needed to build a complete story of the asylum seeker's past.

Lin Piwowarczyk, co-director of the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights, said asylum seekers need a holistic approach to therapy. The program incorporates psychotherapy and medication into PTSD treatment. "We strive to address their needs ... before delving into sensitive issues as their trauma," she said (Manrique, Boston Globe, 3/9).


Sounds like more good news for american citizens , bring them here and award citizenship and welfare for life ...


http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/141816.php

These are the whiniest people in the world. Send them home, get them out and keep them out.

If this open border/amnesty chicanery keeps up, Americans will all soon be suffering from PTSD!

I'm more concerned about our soliders with PTSD.

Dixie

There are many US citizens and legal immigrants who have been through traumatic experiences due to things that happened in the US or from being in the service. We don't run to the next country whining about it and asking for a hand out. We stay here and do what needs to be done!

Do you know how hard it is to get help and multiple therapies for traumatic stress if you are a US citizen? It's darn near impossible and you have to pull lots of strings and spend lots of $$$ to make something happen. But if your an invader our government bends over backwards to help you. Something stinks here!

The media, at the prompting of the Obama administration (my opinion), is priming (attempting to brainwash) us for the coming FLOOD OF 'REFUGEES' coming from Mexico as a result of the border drug violence. Illegal aliens will no longer be 'illegal'. They will be 'refugees'.