Refugee Perceptions of Post-Migratory Stressors Impact on Pre-Existing Trauma

Refugees are an ever-growing population across the world. Refugees leave their country to survive from the horrors and traumas many experiences. They arrive in countries oftentimes with little to no language proficiency, housing, finances, or employment. The stressors many of them face mixed with the trauma they experienced pre-arrival can be a heavy burden to carry. The purpose of this case study is to understand the perceptions of post-migratory stressors impact on pre-existing trauma for refugees at Matthew House in Vancouver, Canada. A constructivist approach is taken since the focus is on the situation from the participants’ point of views and looks to advance areas of furtherance in the area of social justice for minority populations. The goal is to add to the discussion on how to better assist refugees when they arrive to countries such as Canada so they can find healing and adjust quickly to be an asset to the community