Mental Health Consultation in Refugee Camps

This chapter describes the experiences of a team of mental health consultants in a camp for Southeast Asian refugees and outlines the process used by the team to meet the emotional needs of the refugees. The model of community mental health consultation–involving primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention–was used. Data had to be gathered in a systematic manner in order to make the most rational recommendations about meeting the primary, secondary, and tertiary preventative needs of the refugees. The methods used to gather these data are discussed. One of the primary theoretical underpinnings of the work of the consultants was to focus primarily upon meeting the needs of refugees through meeting the needs of family units. Children and adolescents presented special problems that had to be addressed by the consultants, and these special problems are outlined. The degree of acceptance of the consultation recommendations and the degree of success in implementing these recommendations are also described.