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ERIC Number: EJ988332
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1478-8497
EISSN: N/A
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors; A Challenging Group to Teach
Bean, Tammy; Eurelings-Bontekoe, Elisabeth; Spinhoven, Philip
International Journal on School Disaffection, v4 n1 p22-26 2006
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM), like all adolescents, have the right to be able to develop emotionally and cognitively to their fullest potential in host countries (Article 6, Convention of the Rights of the Child, 1991). URM make up a very special and vulnerable population of young people under the age of 18 who have been separated from their parents or primary caregivers for a wide range of reasons. There are a few international studies that have addressed the mental well-being of this population. From these studies and others which have addressed the problems of both accompanied and unaccompanied minors, the conclusion can be drawn that URM experience high levels of emotional distress and are, per definition, a risk group for the development of psychological problems (Macksoud and Aber, 1996; Miller, 1996). The results of a large scale research project that was carried out between 2002-2004 in the Netherlands ("URM and the Dutch Mental Healthcare Services") confirm previous findings and indicate that the mental health and the emotional development of URM as a specific adolescent population are at great risk. It is prudent that efforts are made to reduce and manage the levels of psychological distress among URM living in host countries and to fulfil their mental health care needs. The school may contribute to this developmental process by providing structure, safety, understanding and low threshold mental health care. In addition, the school could contribute to early detection of adverse developments to prevent further difficulties. By doing so, unaccompanied refugee minors will be able to learn, mature and grow into self-sustaining individuals who can actively participate in society.
Trentham Books Ltd. Westview House 734 London Road, Oakhill, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 5TP, England. Tel: +44-1782-745567; Fax: +44-1782-745553; e-mail: tb@trentham-books.co.uk; Web site: http://trentham-books.co.uk/acatalog/The_International_Journal_on_School_Disaffection.html
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Netherlands
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A