Mental Health of Service Providers Working with Refugees, Migrants and Asylum Seekers

Abstract

Service providers working with refugees face great challenges in their work as they often witness people’s testimonies that include difficulties and suffering. Hence, it is not surprising that previous research shows that service providers working with refugees are at an increased risk of developing mental health difficulties. Therefore, the aim of this research is to examine the mental health of service providers working with refugees, focusing on the work-related characteristics that could contribute to psychological difficulties. In addition to the above, the aim is to compare the results with the previous study on the mental health of service providers working with refugees in Serbia, conducted by PIN in 2019, which can be used to gain insight into possible changes in trends. The results show that service providers are highly exposed to the traumatic experiences of beneficiaries – on average, they witness as many as 15 out of a maximum of 19 traumatic experiences. Additionally, mental health screening shows that 69% of respondents have elevated secondary traumatization symptoms, 25% have burnout symptoms, and 53% and 35% have symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. These data indicate that at least 7 out of 10 service providers need additional psychological and psychosocial support. In parallel with the existence of psychological difficulties, a relatively preserved quality of life was also registered, as well as pronounced secondary posttraumatic growth, mostly in the domain of Appreciation of life. As to the domains in which it was possible to compare data on psychological difficulties with data from 2019, there is a relative stagnation in the severity thereof. Research results show that younger service providers are at particular risk, while the most important factors of the working environment that contribute to psychological difficulties are working overtime, less satisfaction with the results of the organization’s work, less pronounced feeling that one's work is appreciated in their organizations, and fewer opportunities to achieve long-term professional goals within the current organization, and a less pronounced perception that organization has a tendency and will to provide employees with earnings as high as possible. Based on the results, practical recommendations were given for evidence-based improvement of policies and practices aimed at the protection of service providers’ mental health.