How Does Family Separation Affect Mental Health in Refugee Fathers?

What you need to know

• Refugee fathers separated from their families have double the risk of mental health disorders compared to those reunited with their families
• Longer separation periods are linked to higher risks of mental health problems
• The negative mental health effects can persist even after families are reunited

The Human Cost of Waiting

Imagine being forced to leave your family behind in a war zone while you seek safety in another country. Each day, you worry about their wellbeing, wondering when - or if - you’ll see them again. This is the reality for many refugee fathers who must wait months or even years to reunite with their wives and children.

The Double Burden of Uncertainty

For refugee fathers, the waiting period creates what researchers call a “double uncertainty” - they don’t know if their applications for asylum and family reunification will be approved, nor how long the process will take. This prolonged state of uncertainty can be psychologically devastating.

Key Findings on Mental Health Impact

The study followed over 6,000 refugee fathers in Denmark for up to 24 years. The results were stark: fathers still separated from their families had more than double the risk of being diagnosed with mental health disorders compared to those reunited with their families. The risk increased the longer they remained separated.

The Role of Time

The research found that longer separation periods were associated with higher risks of mental health problems:

• Fathers separated for 9-11 months had a 43% higher risk compared to those separated for less than 9 months
• Those separated for 18-23 months had double the risk
• The effects were mainly driven by increased rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

What This Means for You

If you work with refugee families or are involved in refugee support:

• Be aware that family separation itself can be traumatic and impact mental health
• Consider establishing support networks specifically for separated fathers
• Even after reunification, families may need ongoing support to heal and reconnect
• Watch for signs of mental health struggles, particularly PTSD symptoms
• Help connect people to mental health resources and family support services

Conclusions

• Family separation poses significant mental health risks for refugee fathers
• The longer the separation, the higher the risk of mental health problems
• Support is needed both during separation and after reunification
• Immigration policies that extend family separation periods may have serious unintended consequences for refugee mental health