Examines the contemporary situation of refugees and displaced people worldwide, with attention to the experiences of children who have fled their homes under threat after witnessing violent acts and destruction, marching or being transported in crowded vehicles, and spending months in transit camps while their families await permission to remain legally in a safe country. Numerous studies have documented the range of stress reactions among children and the extent to which posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can impede children’s emotional and mental development. Treatment of stress reactions include critical incident stress debriefing (CISD), individual and group treatment, and, under ideal circumstances, prevention. Studies also have demonstrated the wide individual differences in response to stress and have shown that children exposed to a life-threatening experience do not invariably develop PTSD. Nevertheless, social workers and others working with refugee children need to recognize that they are at high risk of having mental health problems. At a minimum, schools and other public health services should have proper monitoring procedures in place, including consultations with local child guidance personnel, school psychological services, and other mental health services as well as contact with appropriate refugee advocacy groups.
