How can therapy help refugees and displaced individuals process trauma?

Therapy provides a safe space for refugees to process traumatic experiences through evidence-based approaches like trauma-focused CBT and EMDR. Licensed therapists help individuals develop coping strategies, address PTSD symptoms, and work through grief and loss associated with displacement.

What therapeutic approaches are most effective for trauma recovery?

Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and narrative therapy have shown effectiveness for trauma recovery. These approaches help individuals reframe traumatic experiences, develop emotional regulation skills, and rebuild a sense of identity and purpose.

How can families affected by displacement benefit from family therapy?

Family therapy helps displaced families navigate role changes, communication challenges, and intergenerational trauma. Therapists work with families to strengthen bonds, address cultural adaptation stress, and develop healthy coping mechanisms together while honoring their cultural background.

What role does cultural sensitivity play in therapy for displaced individuals?

Cultural sensitivity is crucial in therapy for displaced individuals. Therapists must understand cultural backgrounds, religious beliefs, and traditional healing practices. This includes recognizing how trauma manifests differently across cultures and adapting therapeutic interventions to align with cultural values and worldviews.

How can therapy help build resilience during times of displacement and uncertainty?

Therapy builds resilience by helping individuals identify existing strengths, develop adaptive coping strategies, and create meaning from difficult experiences. Through techniques like mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, and strength-based interventions, therapy empowers individuals to navigate uncertainty and rebuild their lives.

World Refugee Day: Honoring Resilience and Shared Humanity

November 11, 2025

World Refugee Day on June 20 honors displaced persons worldwide while highlighting their elevated mental health risks, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, emphasizing the critical need for accessible therapeutic interventions and culturally-sensitive mental health support.

What does it mean to rebuild your life from nothing while carrying invisible wounds of trauma? World Refugee Day reminds us that behind displacement statistics lie profound stories of resilience — and the mental health challenges that require our understanding, compassion, and support.

Extending Compassion: World Refugee Day and Our Shared Humanity

Each year, countless individuals are forced to abandon their homes in search of safety and security. While our commitment to supporting refugees should be unwavering throughout the year, World Refugee Day offers a special opportunity for global solidarity. On this day, communities worldwide can acknowledge the resilience, courage, and challenges faced by those who have been displaced from their homes in pursuit of a better life.

Understanding World Refugee Day

According to the United Nations (UN), every minute, 20 people leave everything behind to escape persecution, war, or terror. Observed annually on June 20, World Refugee Day was established by the UN in 2001 to highlight the critical needs of displaced communities, encourage open-mindedness, and foster reflection on the unique challenges refugees face.

This day serves as a reminder that the global community bears responsibility for addressing the root causes of displacement, including ending conflicts and providing necessary resources to support affected populations. The observance emphasizes the importance of comprehensive support for refugees, encompassing everything from mental health services to educational opportunities and legal assistance.

The Origins of World Refugee Day

The inaugural World Refugee Day took place on June 20, 2001, marking the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. This convention, along with the 1967 Protocol, provides the only global legal framework addressing critical aspects of refugee life and establishing standards for their treatment across borders. These documents also outline refugees’ obligations toward their host countries.

A fundamental principle established in this convention is non-refoulement, which prohibits returning refugees to countries where they face serious threats to their freedom or lives, unless they pose a security risk to the host country or have been convicted of a serious crime.

Defining Displacement

A refugee is someone forced to flee their country due to violence, persecution, or armed conflict. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that today, 73% of all refugees come from just five countries: Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Sudan.

Why People Flee: Understanding the Causes

Not everyone who leaves their home country is fleeing danger. Some may relocate for educational opportunities or better economic prospects. These individuals are generally not classified as refugees.

Refugees are specifically those who are forced to leave their homes due to dangerous conditions, seeking protection from conflict, hunger, poverty, natural disasters, climate change, or persecution based on their gender identity or sexual orientation.

Categories of Displaced Persons

Several terms describe displaced individuals, with important distinctions between them:

Refugees

Refugees have been forced to flee their home countries due to war, violence, persecution, natural disasters, or climate change, and cannot return due to safety concerns for themselves or their families.

Asylum Seekers

An asylum seeker is someone who seeks international protection but has not yet completed the refugee application process. While all refugees were initially asylum seekers, not all asylum seekers ultimately receive refugee status.

Internally Displaced Persons

These individuals have been forced to leave their homes but remain within their own countries’ borders. Some may eventually cross international boundaries, at which point they would be classified as refugees.

Stateless Persons

Stateless people hold no citizenship in any country, often because their births were never officially registered. Without legal documentation, they frequently cannot access education, employment, banking services, marriage rights, or property ownership, making them vulnerable to exploitation.

Migrants

A migrant has moved away from home, either within their country or across international borders. While there’s no universal definition, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs considers someone who has lived outside their country of origin for at least a year to be a migrant.

Returnees

Returnees are displaced people who permanently return to their homes after the root cause of their displacement has been resolved. While no longer holding refugee status, they are still in the process of reintegrating into their home countries.

A Growing Global Crisis

According to the UNHCR, approximately 117.3 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced by the end of 2023, representing an 8% increase from 2022. As Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, notes: “Behind these stark and rising numbers lie countless human tragedies. That suffering must galvanize the international community to act urgently to tackle the root causes of forced displacement.”

Ways to Observe World Refugee Day

Here are several meaningful ways to participate in World Refugee Day:

Contribute to international agencies or national non-profits supporting refugees
Raise awareness through social media using relevant hashtags
Educate yourself about forced migration and the courage of displaced persons
Read memoirs or biographies written by authors with refugee experiences
Watch documentaries or films about displacement
Volunteer with local organizations assisting refugees
Listen to music celebrating refugee experiences and resilience

Supporting Refugees Year-Round

While World Refugee Day provides a focal point for awareness, there are numerous ways to support refugees throughout the year:

Host displaced families in your home through local organizations that can help manage associated costs
Volunteer your specific skills to assist refugee families, whether as an interpreter, healthcare provider, or in other capacities
Support businesses that employ refugees or hire refugees in your own company
Organize community fundraising events or donate to organizations serving local refugee populations

Mental Health Challenges Faced by Displaced Persons

Refugees and displaced individuals face an elevated risk of developing mental health conditions due to various factors, including socioeconomic hardship, social isolation, and the trauma of forced displacement. These circumstances can exacerbate existing mental health issues. Common conditions among refugee populations include anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with higher rates of suicide risk.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Text or call 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Support is available 24/7.

A significant obstacle for refugees experiencing mental health challenges is limited access to appropriate care. Many lack health insurance or reliable transportation to attend appointments. At ReachLink, we understand these barriers and offer telehealth mental health services that can be accessed from any location with an internet connection and a smart device.

Our licensed clinical social workers provide compassionate, culturally-sensitive therapy through secure video sessions. Research confirms the effectiveness of telehealth approaches for mental health care. For instance, a 2023 study demonstrated that online mental health treatment significantly improved the quality of life of adults with major depressive disorder.

Conclusion

World Refugee Day represents an international commitment to raising awareness and honoring the strength and courage of those forced from their homes by war, violence, persecution, or natural disasters. This observance reminds us all to maintain open minds and hearts toward those seeking safety and a better life. By extending compassion and taking concrete actions to support displaced persons, we affirm our shared humanity and responsibility to one another.

FAQ

How can therapy help refugees and displaced individuals process trauma?

Therapy provides a safe space for refugees to process traumatic experiences through evidence-based approaches like trauma-focused CBT and EMDR. Licensed therapists help individuals develop coping strategies, address PTSD symptoms, and work through grief and loss associated with displacement.
What therapeutic approaches are most effective for trauma recovery?

Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and narrative therapy have shown effectiveness for trauma recovery. These approaches help individuals reframe traumatic experiences, develop emotional regulation skills, and rebuild a sense of identity and purpose.
How can families affected by displacement benefit from family therapy?

Family therapy helps displaced families navigate role changes, communication challenges, and intergenerational trauma. Therapists work with families to strengthen bonds, address cultural adaptation stress, and develop healthy coping mechanisms together while honoring their cultural background.
What role does cultural sensitivity play in therapy for displaced individuals?

Cultural sensitivity is crucial in therapy for displaced individuals. Therapists must understand cultural backgrounds, religious beliefs, and traditional healing practices. This includes recognizing how trauma manifests differently across cultures and adapting therapeutic interventions to align with cultural values and worldviews.
How can therapy help build resilience during times of displacement and uncertainty?

Therapy builds resilience by helping individuals identify existing strengths, develop adaptive coping strategies, and create meaning from difficult experiences. Through techniques like mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, and strength-based interventions, therapy empowers individuals to navigate uncertainty and rebuild their lives.