Design for Mental Health

Kara Yudikaitis

The experiences of fear, trauma, loss, depleted social structures, and relocation that refugees face during the conflicts from are challenges that continue to have an impact for years after resettlement. The journey to resettlement camps are often long and hazardous, and the resettlement process is often a strenuous process. In addition to these pre-existing factors, most refugees settle within camps where they experience overcrowding, lack of amenities, racism, low quality housing, and little sense of community. These living conditions have significant effects on the mental health of the residents living there, often contributing or amplifying common diagnoses.

A study done after World War II proposed a direct correlation between severity of war experiences and psychiatric breakdowns. The stress caused by traumatic experience is sometimes too much for the mind and body to handle. Further studies done after the Vietnam War showed that cultural variables play a role in the presentation of distress in former soldiers. The same symptoms of mental distress are evident in most refugees. Oftentimes when refugees are forced to leave their homes, they do so without knowing where their destination will be. The only thing known is that they cannot stay where there is war, for this usually means that safety is in jeopardy, human rights are being violated, and/or persecution is taking place over politics, religion, race and gender.

Some of the most prevalent mental disorders experienced by refugees are: depression, anxiety, distress, irritability, bipolar disorder and psychological breakdowns. Symptoms are sometimes hard to diagnose due to these illnesses being surrounded by stigmas, stereotypes, and misunderstanding. Some of the common symptoms experienced by refugees include: muscle tension, headaches, fast breathing, fast heartbeat, tiredness and extreme sadness. These adverse mental and physical health effects stem from the lack of safety and security offered by refugee camp settings.

Redesigning camps and shelters is a critical element to assisting mental health and healing. Physical environments are a social determinant of health, and poor living conditions have been found to be a direct, detrimental link to mental health. It is proven that a poor environments increase stress while reducing empowerment and sense of control. Substandard housing impacts socio-emotional development, psychological distress and behavioral problems.

Specifically looking at aspects of the house, overcrowding is a major source of stress for refugees. The lack of privacy and space causes anxiety and inability to concentrate making it very hard to live happily there. Excessive heat and cold are also linked to mental distress. Studies done by the UK Warm Front Scheme, found that those with bedroom temperatures of 21°C were 50% less likely to experience depression than those with temperatures of 15°C. Lighting is another key housing factor that could benefit mental health. It is proven that natural lighting reduces anxiety, depression and psychological effects.

Other housing factors include: condensation, mold, noise, hygiene and lead. In addition to negative physical health outcomes, these factors can all have lasting effects that could cause depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, lack of concentration and shame. Most of these challenges can be easily managed within a refugee camp. Cleaning and updating structures would provide for a safe, healthy environment for refugee inhabitants. Designing camps in relation to these stated efforts to maintain mental and physical health will ultimately better living conditions for the years that people live there.