CULTURE, CONTEXT AND MENTAL HEALTH OF ROHINGYA …

1 CULTURE, CONTEXT . AND MENTAL HEALTH . OF ROHINGYA REFUGEES. A review for staff in MENTAL HEALTH and psychosocial support programmes for ROHINGYA refugees Review 1. UNHCR, 2018. All rights reserved Reproduction and dissemination for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without any prior written permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction for resale or other commercial purposes, or translation for any purpose, is prohibited without the written permission of the copyright holders.

2 Applications for such permission should be addressed to the Public HEALTH Section of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at This document is commissioned by UNHCR and posted on the UNHCR website. However, the views expressed in this document are those of the authors and not necessarily those of UNHCR or other institutions that the authors serve. The editors and authors have taken all reasonable precautions to verify the information contained in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either express or implied.

3 The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees be liable for damages arising from its use. Suggested citation: Tay, , Islam, R., Riley, A., Welton-Mitchell, C., Duchesne, B., Waters, V., Varner, A., Silove, D., Ventevogel, P. (2018). Culture, CONTEXT and MENTAL HEALTH of ROHINGYA Refugees: A review for staff in MENTAL HEALTH and psychosocial support programmes for ROHINGYA refugees. Geneva, Switzerland. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

4 Cover photo: Thousands of new ROHINGYA refugee arrivals cross the border near Anzuman Para village, Palong Khali, Bangladesh. As an estimated 500,000 ROHINGYA sought safety in Bangladesh between late-August and October 2017, UNHCR. worked with the authorities to create a transit centre to prepare for a further influx, as some 11,000 people crossed the border on 9th October. UNHCR/Roger Arnold, 9 October, 2017. Graphic design: BakOS DESIGN. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 1. 8. Rationale for the desk 8. 8. 2. Myanmar: Geographical and demographic The ROHINGYA of Myanmar: A history of persecution and human rights ROHINGYA ROHINGYA and Gender and family Customs and General HEALTH 3.

5 MENTAL HEALTH and psychosocial wellbeing of Epidemiological studies of MENTAL disorders and risk/protective 4. ROHINGYA cultural concepts around MENTAL HEALTH and MENTAL ROHINGYA beliefs and expressions (idioms) of distress and MENTAL Concepts of the self/ Religion, faith, and traditional healing and their role in MENTAL HEALTH and psychosocial Help-seeking 5. Interventions to improve MENTAL HEALTH and psychosocial wellbeing of Role of the social sector in Role of the formal and informal educational sector in Role of the HEALTH sector in Coordination of MHPSS services for ROHINGYA refugees in Documented experiences involving MENTAL HEALTH and psychosocial support for Towards a multi-layered system of services and 6.

6 Challenges in providing culturally relevant and contextually appropriate services for MENTAL HEALTH and psychosocial support to ROHINGYA Concepts of psychological Help seeking Gender norms and Adaptation of MHPSS Acknowledging diversity within ROHINGYA refugee 7. Review 3. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF CONTRIBUTORS. Editors and main authors Reviewers and other contributors (in alphabetical order). Alvin K. Tay (University of New South Wales, Australia) Mahmudul Alam (UNHCR, Bangladesh). Peter Ventevogel (UNHCR, Switzerland) Myintzu Aye (UNFPA, Myanmar).

7 Mohammad Badrudduza ( ROHINGYA Society Core group of expert contributors Malaysia). Rafiqul Islam (culture/ language analyst, in non- Emanuele Bruni (WHO, Geneva). affiliated capacity, Myanmar). Gretchen Emick (IRC, USA). Andrew Riley (in non-affiliated capacity, United Fahmy Hanna (WHO, Geneva). States). Tanya Hubbard (Myanmar Art Social projeCt, Courtney Welton-Mitchell (University of Colorado Myanmar). -Boulder (CU), USA). Sanjida Khan (Jagannath University, Bangladesh). Benedicte Duchesne (MHPSS consultant, France). Tanya Kullar (ACF, Iraq).

8 Andrea Varner (World Concern, USA). Sophie Lasserre (ACF, Myanmar). Valerie Waters (DRC Bangladesh, formerly ACF. Myanmar) Stuart Le Marseny (in non-affiliated capacity, Myanmar). Derrick Silove (University of New South Wales, Australia) Mahmuda Mahmuda (UNHCR, Bangladesh). Mohammad Abdul Awal Miah (in non-affiliated Volunteers who contributed to the literature search: capacity, Bangladesh). Batool Moussa (University of New South Wales, Adam Nord (UNHCR, Bangladesh). Australia). James Onyango (UNHCR, Bangladesh). Nicola Abraham (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) Nishat Fatima Rahman (BRAC Bangladesh).

9 Catherine Galley (Humanitarian Assistance Applied Olga Rebolledo (IOM Bangladesh). Research Group, Denver University) Selma Sevkli (WHO, Bangladesh). Katherine Riley (Humanitarian Assistance Applied Mohamed El Shazly (UNHCR, Bangladesh). Research Group, Denver University). Lucy Stevens (GBV Specialist Myanmar). Megan Rafferty (Humanitarian Assistance Applied James Underhill (UNFPA, Myanmar). Research Group, Denver University). UNHCR staff of the Regional Bureau for Asia Sirar Jaroudy (London School of Hygiene and and the Pacific (Geneva, Switzerland), the Tropical Medicine).

10 Regional Office Bangkok (Thailand), the Regional Somidha Ray (London School of Hygiene and Representation in Canberra (Australia), Country Tropical Medicine) Offices in Dhaka (Bangladesh), Kuala Lumpur Mohammed Tasdik Hasan (London School of (Malaysia), New Delhi (India), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) Yangon (Myanmar) and Sub Office Cox's Bazar (Bangladesh). Po-Chang Tseng (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine). 4 Culture, CONTEXT and MENTAL HEALTH of ROHINGYA Refugees LIST OF ACRONYMS. ACF Action Against Hunger (Action Contre La Faim).