Forced Migration and Mental Health : Rethinking the Care of Refugees and Displaced Persons

Although forced migration is not new in human history it has become, in our time, one of the world's major problems. In the last few decades, armed conflict and political unrest have created vast numbers of asylum seekers, refugees and displaced persons. This has led, in turn to increasing involvement of professional care workers and agencies, both governmental and nongovernmental. While there is no doubt on the part of helping parties that care is necessary, there is considerable debate about the kind of care that is needed. This book presents a critical review of mental health care provisions for people who have had to leave their homeland, and explores the controversies surrounding this topic. Providing fresh perspectives on an age old problem, this book covers humanitarian aid and reconstruction programs as well as service provision in host countries. It is of interest to all those who provide health services, create policy, and initiate legislation for these populations.

David Ingleby is Professor of Intercultural Psychology at Utrecht University. After working for the Medical Research Council in London and teaching in Social and Political Sciences at Cambridge University, he moved to Holland in 1982 to take up a chair in Developmental Psychology. Since 1991 he has concentrated on issues of migration and culture and was awarded his present chair in 1999. Together with Charles Watters he teaches in the European MA network on ‘Migration, Mental Health and Social Care’. He has a lifelong interest in the social dimension of psychology and in interdisciplinary research and practice.