Resiliency, Mental Health & Social Integration

The goal is to broaden and deepen our knowledge about their lives after resettlement. The research project is carried out using data collected through surveys and nationwide Swedish registers.

The main study population consists of 1215 newly resettled refugees from Syria, with permanent residence permits in Sweden. At present two separate data collections have been carried out and a final data collection is due in 2021.

So far, the results from the study have shown that one in three resettled refugees from Syria had marked symptoms of depression and anxiety. In the same group, 30 % indicated symptoms consistent with a diagnosis or risk of post-traumatic stress disorder. This suggest that there might be a need for interventions that can lessen the symptom burden and promote well-being among resettled refugees and asylum-seekers from Syria.

With the final data collection in 2021, the research group will be able to study these findings in more detail and analyse mental health and well-being trajectories over time. The findings will be disseminated continuously throughout 2021-2023 in international, peer-reviewed journals.

The Resiliency, Mental Health & Social Integration research project is led by Associate Professor Øivind Fjeld-Solberg at The Swedish Red Cross University College.