More than 75% of Syrian refugees may have PTSD – study

More than 75% of Syrian refugees may have PTSD – study

PanARMENIAN.Net - More than three-quarters of Syrian refugees may be suffering serious mental health symptoms, 10 years after the start of the civil war, The Guardian reports.

A UK charity is calling for more investment in mental health services for refugees in several countries after it found symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were widespread in a survey of displaced Syrians.

Syria Relief said refugees and people internally displaced by the conflict struggled to find support.

A survey of 721 Syrians living in Lebanon, Turkey and in Idlib in Syria’s north-west found 84% had at least seven out of 15 key symptoms of PTSD.

According to Syria Relief’s report, only 15% of refugees in Lebanon say mental health support is available for them. Among displaced Syrians in Idlib the figure falls to 1%.

Only two out of 393 people who took part in the survey showed no symptoms linked to PTSD in Idlib, the last rebel stronghold against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces.

More than 5.6 million people have fled Syria since 2011 and 6.6 million have been internally displaced.

Photo: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
 Top stories
Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive.
In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million).
The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot".
The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.
Partner news
---