Many refugees have experienced significant trauma due to violence, displacement, or loss. Mental health challenges may continue after arriving in Canada.
Common mental health impacts include:
- Anxiety and depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Sleep disturbances and nightmares
- Difficulty concentrating
- Survivor’s guilt
Children and trauma:
Although young children are often seen as resilient or too young to understand certain situations, they are still deeply affected by trauma. Children under five may struggle to express what they’ve experienced, but trauma can appear through regressive behaviours such as bedwetting, thumb sucking, loss of language, mood swings, new fears, physical symptoms, or increased clinginess.
Older children are equally impacted and may show similar symptoms, along with added challenges at school. Children aged six to eleven are particularly vulnerable, as trauma during this critical developmental stage increases the risk of PTSD. Research shows that traumatic experiences can significantly affect neurological development, leading to difficulties with learning, behaviour, relationships, and emotional regulation. This can mean many newly arrived refugee students face substantial challenges in the classroom.
Adolescence and Trauma:
Adolescents are at high risk of experiencing trauma. They are developmentally capable of understanding what has happened to them but often lack the coping skills needed to process it. This is compounded by hormonal changes which can intensify emotional responses. As they try to make sense of their experiences, traumatized teens may engage in risky behaviours such as social withdrawal, mental health disorders, behavioural challenges, resistance to support, or unsafe activities. Because conflict with parents and authority figures is common during this stage, signs of trauma may be overlooked or dismissed. As a result, it is important for parents, educators, community members, and peers to recognize adolescents’ needs and respond appropriately.
Adults and Trauma:
Adults generally understand what has happened to them and can articulate their experiences, but they may be unwilling or unable to share. Some may not recognize their experiences as traumatic, particularly if they come from communities where trauma is widespread.
Common responses include hypervigilance, emotional numbness, flashbacks, nightmares, detachment, and distorted perceptions. Some individuals may cope through substance use and may experience depression, anxiety, hostility, or suicidal thoughts. These effects are often intensified in cases of torture or sexual assault, where emotional trauma is frequently accompanied by lasting physical pain or psychosomatic symptoms.
Key Support Strategies:
- Create Safety and Stability: Establish a predictable, calm environment to help reduce high alert levels.
- Practice Active Listening: Allow them to share their experiences at their own pace, using their own words without pressure.
- Prioritize Basic Needs: Address immediate, practical necessities like housing, financial, legal, and medical assistance before focusing on deep psychological work.
- Build Trusting Relationships: Be consistent and patient in interactions, as trust is paramount for individuals who have faced immense, often prolonged, trauma.
- Respect Cultural Differences: Recognize that trauma manifestations and help-seeking behaviors vary across cultures.
- Avoid Triggers: Be aware of environmental factors that might cause distress, such as loud noises, specific smells, or news related to their home country.
- Connect with Community: Encourage participation in social activities and peer support groups to help combat isolation.
What to Avoid
- Do not pressure them to talk about their traumatic experiences.
- Avoid making promises that cannot be kept.
- Do not dismiss, minimize, or criticize their feelings and reactions.
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