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Diseases

Mental Health Services in Humanitarian Settings: A New Study Exposes Gaps in Patient Care

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent study by researchers from the University of New South Wales has shed light on the experiences of Syrian mental health and psychosocial support service users in Northwest Syria and Turkey. The research, supported by the ELRHA's Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) Program, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Wellcome Trust, and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), aimed to explore the preferences and experiences of displaced Syrians in accessing mental healthcare.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study involved 378 displaced Syrians, with 55% being female and a mean age of 31 years, who were interviewed about their experiences with mental health and psychosocial support services.
  • Participants emphasized the importance of time and understanding (62%), dignity (43%), confidentiality (36%), and continuity of care (31%), with significant variation by gender.
  • Interpersonal aspects of care, such as building trust and sustaining service engagement, were crucial for mental health and psychosocial support services.
  • Service-level factors, including adequate time with practitioners and integrated and coordinated care, were essential for providing high-quality support in a context of ongoing conflict, displacement, and poverty.
  • The study highlighted the need to prioritize service user experiences in mental health and psychosocial support service design and delivery.
  • The findings of the study underscore the importance of person-centred approaches in mental health and psychosocial support services.

Statistics:

  • 378 displaced Syrians participated in the study, with 55% being female and a mean age of 31 years.
  • 62% of participants emphasized the importance of time and understanding in their experiences with mental health and psychosocial support services.
  • 43% of participants prioritized dignity, 36% confidentiality, and 31% continuity of care.

Sources:

  • "Contextualising Person-centred Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (Mhpss) Services: a Qualitative Study of the Preferences and Experiences of Displaced Syrians In Northwest Syria and Turkiye." Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health, 2025;12.
  • NewsRx. "New Findings in Mental Health Diseases and Conditions Described from University of New South Wales." Mental Health Weekly Digest, October 27, 2025; p 525.

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