Mental health and quality of life among refugees and asylum seekers: a multicentre project

In collaboration with 7 different centres and institutions, IAN is conducting research on Mental health and quality of life among refugees and asylum seekers. The aim of the project is to gain new knowledge on mental health and quality of life of refugees, both during the flight and at the reception centres in which they arrive. There is some research on the situation of refugees after arrival in host country (e.g. (Alemi et al., 2013)), however, the knowledge provided is fragmented, ambiguous and far from clear. We have not found systematic research on refuges during the flight, so this area represents a clear knowledge gap that needs further research. The following areas will be covered in the project:

1. Background information on refugees coming to Europe and Australia regarding pre-flight, flight and post-flight experiences
2. Good and difficult experiences as perceived by the refugees
3. The refugees present status regarding mental health and somatic health
4. Identification of vulnerable groups and persons
5. Identification of interventions and type of psychosocial help that can be offered based on the findings from the project
6. Evaluation of interventions

Partners on the project are:

1. Faculty of Health /Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo and Akershus University College
2. School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia
3. Sigmund Freud institute, Frankfurt, Germany
4. Faculty of Philosophy University of Pristina in Kosovska Mitrovica
5. Norwegian Centre for Minority Health Research
6. Institute of psychology, University of Stockholm
7. Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta
8. International Aid Network, Belgrade, Serbia