The Influence of Holding Facilities on the Psychological State of Migrants

The recent influx of migrants from Africa to Europe via the Mediterranean route has left Italy in desperate need of addressing their physical and psychological needs. Prior to their arrival in Italy, migrants must complete an arduous journey through Libya. This journey exposes migrants to treacherous conditions that scholars have noted act as risk factors for the development of various psychological disorders, most notably depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Proper treatment upon their arrival is critical to help migrants cope with the trauma and prevent the development of psychological disorders, but conditions at the facilities hosting them are questionable and may act as additional risk factors. Numerous facilities have materialized acting as safe havens for migrants. Some of those are government-funded; however, government-contracted and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have also opened locations to help cope with the high quantity of migrants. This study compares the conditions and operations of government-contracted facilities and NGOs, and argues that the operation methods of church-based NGOs are better suited to help migrants combat the development of psychological disorders