Today, more than 60 million people worldwide have been displaced from their homes, fleeing war or persecution. Much of the world began paying attention last summer, as waves of refugees poured from Syria, Iraq and other countries across European borders.
In April, speakers at the ninth annual Psychology Day at the United Nations urged attendees — more than 450 U.N. staff, ambassadors and diplomats, NGO representatives, psychologists and students — to think about the psychosocial aspects of this global migration crisis. Their goal is to determine ways in which psychological research can guide refugee relief and resettlement programs.
"This is an urgent call to wake up to the long-term costs to society of not addressing these psychological dimensions of migration," said Bloomfield University professor emeritus Rashmi Jaipal, PhD, co-chair of the event and one of APA's NGO representatives to the United Nations.
Jointly sponsored by APA and more than a dozen other organizations, Psychology Day brings psychologists to the U.N. to show how psychology can contribute to solving the world's most pressing humanitarian problems.
This year, one panel focused on "cultural integration in the process of resettlement": how psychologists can help prepare refugees to start new lives in their host countries, while taking into account cultural considerations and the refugees' experiences of trauma and suffering. The second panel focused on children and youth. "Of [the world's 60 million refugees], over half are children and youth. Many of them are unaccompanied, and have been placed at risk for violence, abuse, neglect, trafficking and, for some, forced military recruitment," said Roseanne Flores, PhD, a developmental psychologist at Hunter College and the other co-chair of the event.
Speakers discussed the challenges those children face and how psychologists can help build resilience among refugee children.
To learn more and to watch a webcast of the event, visit www.unpsychologyday.comopens in new window.
— Lea Winerman
