September 15, 2016
by Elika Dadsetan
Living in cities increases the risk of developing certain mental illnesses, and for refugees living in urban poverty, these risks are often exacerbated because their living environments are often inherently stressful. For example, we know that children may have increased exposure to domestic and sexual violence, they may be more likely to worry about economic hardships, including child labor and child marriage, and children in these settings may experience greater levels of neglect or lack of parental engagement, since parents often have to spend time away from the home to earn money. We also see greater social isolation in urban slums, including refugee camps - both informal tented settlements or otherwise, and as such, increased risks for children to become involved in substance abuse, violence, sexual exploitation, and other risky behaviors and experiences. Furthermore, these children's adult caregivers are also at increased risk of developing mental illnesses - and this is a further risk factor for children's mental health. We know that suicide is amongst the top three causes of death for those of child-bearing age (15-44 year olds). The old “village” life that refugee children may be used to - and the care associated with it - may not be as prominent in their new lives.
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