Traumatic experiences and the mental health of Senegalese refugees

The purpose of our study was to conduct a preliminary investigation into th e experiences and mental health of Senegalese refugees. Although research h as established that refugees are more prone to psychiatric illnesses than t he general population, little has been written about West African refugees. Our focus was on adult refugees (18 years of age and older) from the Casam ance region of Senegal. A total of 80 participants (39 women, 41 men) were randomly selected from refugee camps in The Gambia. The Harvard Trauma Ques tionnaire and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 were used to assess levels o f traumatization and mental health status. Typical of refugees of war, part icipants reported suffering a large number of various traumas. High prevale nce rates of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder were al so found in this group. A substantial mental health problem exists within t he Senegalese refugee population that may signify a potential human crisis.