Society

The BZFO, a Hope for the Traumatized Refugees

Mental Health Problems among the Refugees Addressed in Berlin

April 09th, 2016
Julie Essertel, News from Berlin
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The BZFO (Behandlungszentrum für Folteropfer Berlin) is a German center based in Berlin that treats the victims of torture and war-time violence. The center heals 500 people from about 50 countries thanks to the helps of social workers, psychologists, physiotherapists and interpreters. Together they manage to provide the victims of violence medical and psychological care. For instance, Firas Alshater was treated and then was able to pursue his career as a filmmaker.

Lately, the center has welcomed more and more refugees as it is one of the only centers offering help for psychological trauma for free in Berlin. The center helps directly more than 180 refugees and offers consultations and counseling to more than 700 others. However, the help can only be provided during a short time and involves 20% of the refugees who asked for help to the authorities in charge of the psychological support.

Studies about the mental health of the refugees begin to appear and an a report from the German Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists show that more than 50% of the refugees in Germany suffer psychological traumas from their journey to Europe, from the death of their family to the “biter” practice by the Islamic State to punish women too lightly dressed. Those studies explain that only 4% of those people are treated, so that the issues of mental health are too often ignored concerning the refugee crisis.

There is clearly a lack of such institutions, as there is no mental health network at all in the Balkans, the last one is therefore in Lesbos, Greece. This health problem is not addressed in most of the cases; the need of organizations like BZFO is great, in Berlin but also in most European cities.

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References:

News from Berlin