How Do Living Conditions and Social Support Impact Refugee Mental Health?

What you need to know

• Poor living conditions and lack of social support significantly impact refugees’ mental health, beyond the effects of pre-migration trauma
• The quality of housing and social connections are interrelated - better housing enables more social interaction while social networks help secure better housing
• Addressing both housing quality and social support should be priorities alongside traditional mental health treatment for refugees

Understanding the Link Between Living Conditions and Mental Health

Imagine arriving in a new country after fleeing your home, only to find yourself living in crowded temporary housing with limited privacy and few opportunities to build new social connections. This is the reality for many refugees and asylum seekers. While we often focus on the trauma they experienced before migration, the conditions people face after arrival can have an equally profound impact on their mental health and ability to rebuild their lives.

The Complex Web of Housing, Social Support and Mental Health

The research examined 325 Arabic and Farsi-speaking refugees and asylum seekers in Germany who were seeking mental health treatment. The study found that poor living conditions and lack of social support were strongly linked to increased symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Importantly, these factors had an even stronger impact than pre-migration trauma.

The relationship works both ways - mental health challenges can make it harder to maintain social relationships and navigate housing systems, while isolation and poor living conditions can worsen psychological symptoms. Housing quality and social connections are also intertwined, as better housing enables more social interaction while having a strong social network helps secure better housing.

Housing as More Than Just Shelter

What makes housing “good” goes beyond just having a roof overhead. Key factors include:

• Privacy and personal space
• Quiet for rest and study
• Opportunities for social interaction
• Location near community resources
• Sense of safety and stability
• Autonomy and control over living space

When housing lacks these qualities, it can increase stress and isolation while making it harder to recover from trauma or learn the language and skills needed to integrate into the new society.

The Critical Role of Social Support

Social connections serve many vital functions for refugees:

• Emotional support and understanding
• Help navigating systems in the new country
• Practical assistance with housing and other needs
• Cultural connection and sense of belonging
• Buffer against stress and trauma

When refugees are housed in isolated locations or lack opportunities for social interaction, it becomes much harder to build these protective relationships.

What This Means for You

For refugees and those working with refugee communities:

• Prioritize both housing quality and opportunities for social connection
• Look for housing options that enable privacy and community interaction
• Build social networks through community organizations and cultural groups
• Consider how mental health treatment can address housing and social needs
• Advocate for policies that support better refugee housing and integration

For policymakers and service providers:

• Housing policies should consider both physical and social needs
• Locate refugee housing near community resources and transportation
• Provide spaces and programs that enable social connection
• Include social support in mental health treatment approaches
• Address barriers to accessing private housing markets

Conclusions

• Mental health treatment for refugees must look beyond individual therapy to address living conditions and social support
• Housing and social connections have a reciprocal relationship - improving one tends to improve the other
• Integration success depends on meeting both physical needs for adequate housing and social-emotional needs for connection and belonging