Refugees’ mental health is suffering during the pandemic
The pandemic has exacerbated feelings of loneliness in many people. Since the pandemic, the non-migrant population reports levels of loneliness that are as high as those reported by refugees for a number of years previous to the pandemic. of years previous to the pandemic.“
The study also shows that refugees continue to experience more psychological problems, such as depression and anxiety, than non-migrants.
The reason is suspected to lie in a lack of social participation, since those who have a job are less lonely. Even having better German language skills or a higher household income alleviates feelings of loneliness in refugees.
Based on these findings, the research team has called for better language-learning programs and improved access to the labor market for refugees.