The impact of pre and post-migration stressors on the psychological wellbeing of refugees.

Refugees and asylum seekers are at increased risk of mental health problems because of their exposure to traumatic events that accompany individual or population wide human rights abuses. This review has two distinct aims. The first is to assess the literature related to this group considering the rates of mental health problems reported by studies conducted in both developed and developing countries. This will include a review of factors related to increased mental health problems, with a particular focus on the impact of the post-migration environment. The second aim is to review clinical and ecological service models which have been employed with refugees. The review suggests that the mental health of refugees is negatively affected by both exposure to pre-migration trauma and post-migration factors, such as a long asylum application process, restricted economic opportunity and reduced social support. Whilst the literature on interventions is limited, the review suggests that services should address the broad range of problems experienced by refugees in a holistic manner