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Trauma

The importance of addressing intergenerational trauma in refugees

Nature Mental Health volume 2, pages 12–14 (2024)Cite this article

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Intergenerational trauma, passed down through generations, is a significant concern for refugees and their descendants. Millions of people are forcibly displaced worldwide, with profound effects on mental and physical health. Refugees face many challenges, from acculturation to legal uncertainties, leading to a range of emotional struggles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health services, Srinagar, India

    Sheikh Shoib

  2. Psychosis Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Sheikh Shoib

  3. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medical Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria

    Aishatu Yusha’u Armiya’u

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, Nigeria

    Aishatu Yusha’u Armiya’u

  5. Faculty of Medicine, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria

    Sarya Swed

  6. AIIMS Kalyani, West Bengal, Sri Lanka

    Chandrima Naskar

  7. Department of Psychiatry, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka

    Miyuru Chandradasa

  8. European Student Think Tank, Public Health and Policy Working Group, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Christos Tsagkaris

  9. International Society for Chronic Illnesses, New Delhi, India

    Ilham Zaidi

  10. MD, Psychosis Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Fahimeh Saeed

Authors
  1. Sheikh Shoib
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  2. Aishatu Yusha’u Armiya’u
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  3. Sarya Swed
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  4. Chandrima Naskar
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  5. Miyuru Chandradasa
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  6. Christos Tsagkaris
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  7. Ilham Zaidi
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  8. Fahimeh Saeed
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Contributions

S. Shoib devised the concept, S. Shoib and I.Z. wrote the first draft. A.Y.A., S. Swed, C.N., M.C., C.T., F.S. and I.Z. revised, reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ilham Zaidi.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Nature Mental Health thanks Michael Pluess and the other, anonymous reviewers for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Shoib, S., Armiya’u, A.Y., Swed, S. et al. The importance of addressing intergenerational trauma in refugees. Nat. Mental Health 2, 12–14 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-023-00186-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-023-00186-x

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