“My mind is not like before”: Psychosocial rehabilitation of victims of torture in Athens
Introduction: The dual trauma of being a victim of torture as well as a refugee is related to a myriad of losses, human rights violations and other dimensions of suffering linked to torture experienced pre-migration, as well as different forms of violence experienced during and after migration. M...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
2018-07-01
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| Series: | Torture |
| Online Access: | https://tidsskrift.dk/torture-journal/article/view/106825 |
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| author | Gail Womersley Laure Kloetzer Rafael Van den Bergh Emilie Venables Nathalie Severy Nikos Gkionakis Christina Popontopoulou Manolis Kokkiniotis Federica Zamatto |
| author_facet | Gail Womersley Laure Kloetzer Rafael Van den Bergh Emilie Venables Nathalie Severy Nikos Gkionakis Christina Popontopoulou Manolis Kokkiniotis Federica Zamatto |
| author_sort | Gail Womersley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: The dual trauma of being a victim of torture as well as a refugee is related to a myriad of losses, human rights violations and other dimensions of suffering linked to torture experienced pre-migration, as well as different forms of violence experienced during and after migration.
Method: To present three case studies to explore culturally-informed perspectives on trauma among victims of torture and track trajectories of psychosocial rehabilitation in relation to environmental factors. The case studies are part of a larger qualitative study of asylum seekers and refugees in a center for victims of torture in Athens, managed by Médecins Sans Frontières and Babel in collaboration with Greek Council for Refugees, which follows beneficiaries, their care providers and community representatives and leaders.
Results: Key themes emerging include the substantial psychological impact of current material realities of migrant victims of torture as they adapt to their new environment and engage in rehabilitation. Delayed asylum trials, poor living conditions and unemployment have a substantial impact on posttraumatic symptoms that in turn influence psychosocial rehabilitation. Personal, social, and cultural resources emerged as having a mediating effect.
Discussion: The results highlight the significant impact of the political, legal, and sociocultural environment on psychosocial rehabilitation. Practical implications for interventions are to ensure holistic, interdisciplinary, and culturally sensitive care which includes a focus on environmental factors affecting resilience; and with a dynamic focus on the totality of the individual over isolated pathologies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4a595cc2c4394be8906ca5c5c06aeffc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1018-8185 1997-3322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Torture |
| spelling | doaj-art-4a595cc2c4394be8906ca5c5c06aeffc2025-08-20T03:41:02ZengInternational Rehabilitation Council for Torture VictimsTorture1018-81851997-33222018-07-01282728410.7146/torture.v28i2.106825102412“My mind is not like before”: Psychosocial rehabilitation of victims of torture in AthensGail Womersley0Laure Kloetzer1Rafael Van den Bergh2Emilie Venables3Nathalie Severy4Nikos Gkionakis5Christina Popontopoulou6Manolis Kokkiniotis7Federica Zamatto8Institute of Psychology and Education, University of Neuchatel, SwitzerlandInstitute of Psychology and Education, University of Neuchatel, SwitzerlandMédecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre BrusselsMédecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre BrusselsMédecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre BrusselsBabel Mental Health Day Care Centre, Athens, GreeceMédecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels, Centre for Victims of Torture and ill-treatment, Athens, GreeceMédecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels, Centre for Victims of Torture and ill-treatment, Athens, GreeceMédecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre BrusselsIntroduction: The dual trauma of being a victim of torture as well as a refugee is related to a myriad of losses, human rights violations and other dimensions of suffering linked to torture experienced pre-migration, as well as different forms of violence experienced during and after migration. Method: To present three case studies to explore culturally-informed perspectives on trauma among victims of torture and track trajectories of psychosocial rehabilitation in relation to environmental factors. The case studies are part of a larger qualitative study of asylum seekers and refugees in a center for victims of torture in Athens, managed by Médecins Sans Frontières and Babel in collaboration with Greek Council for Refugees, which follows beneficiaries, their care providers and community representatives and leaders. Results: Key themes emerging include the substantial psychological impact of current material realities of migrant victims of torture as they adapt to their new environment and engage in rehabilitation. Delayed asylum trials, poor living conditions and unemployment have a substantial impact on posttraumatic symptoms that in turn influence psychosocial rehabilitation. Personal, social, and cultural resources emerged as having a mediating effect. Discussion: The results highlight the significant impact of the political, legal, and sociocultural environment on psychosocial rehabilitation. Practical implications for interventions are to ensure holistic, interdisciplinary, and culturally sensitive care which includes a focus on environmental factors affecting resilience; and with a dynamic focus on the totality of the individual over isolated pathologies.https://tidsskrift.dk/torture-journal/article/view/106825 |
| spellingShingle | Gail Womersley Laure Kloetzer Rafael Van den Bergh Emilie Venables Nathalie Severy Nikos Gkionakis Christina Popontopoulou Manolis Kokkiniotis Federica Zamatto “My mind is not like before”: Psychosocial rehabilitation of victims of torture in Athens Torture |
| title | “My mind is not like before”: Psychosocial rehabilitation of victims of torture in Athens |
| title_full | “My mind is not like before”: Psychosocial rehabilitation of victims of torture in Athens |
| title_fullStr | “My mind is not like before”: Psychosocial rehabilitation of victims of torture in Athens |
| title_full_unstemmed | “My mind is not like before”: Psychosocial rehabilitation of victims of torture in Athens |
| title_short | “My mind is not like before”: Psychosocial rehabilitation of victims of torture in Athens |
| title_sort | my mind is not like before psychosocial rehabilitation of victims of torture in athens |
| url | https://tidsskrift.dk/torture-journal/article/view/106825 |
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