ABSTRACT

Children and adolescents who are forcibly displaced represent half the refugee population worldwide. Unaccompanied refugee children and adolescents are at increased risk for psychopathologies. This increased risk is not only due to the fact that they are young refugees living in another country, but also due to the absence of their parents, making them more likely to encounter other incidents such as traumatic experiences, exploitation, or abuse. Before or during exile, many children witness persecution, the death of their loved ones, or find themselves in mortal danger. However, the agony usually continues after reaching the host country. The worry about others who stayed behind, the deprivation and humiliation of being a refugee, and uncertainty about the future often causes suffering. Understanding the difficulties of unaccompanied refugee children in the field of mental health is of great importance in providing appropriate treatment and preventive measures.