Suicidal feelings run high among mothers in refugee camps: a cross‐sectional survey
- 6 October 2003
- journal article
- website
- Published by Wiley in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
- Vol. 108 (5) , 392-393
- https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0447.2003.00220.x
Abstract
Objective: To study levels of mental distress in a sample of Afghan mothers caring for children in two refugee camps in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan.Method: Cross‐sectional survey of 297 consecutive mothers with young children, attending primary care centres, using a psychiatric screening instrument, the Self‐Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ‐20).Results: One hundred and six (36%) of women in the sample screened positive for a common mental disorder. Ninety‐six (91%) of those screening positive had had suicidal thoughts in the previous month, and nine (8%) rated suicidal feeling as their topmost concern.Conclusion: There is a high prevalence and severity of mental distress in Afghan mothers caring for young children in refugee camps. This may have serious long‐term effects on the psychological and physical development of their children.Keywords
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