A recent report by the German Federation of Psychosocial Centers (Dachverbands Psychosozialer Zentren in Deutschland) suggests that the living situation of refugees in Germany contributes to the development or exacerbation of mental health issues.
According to Lukas Welz, the business manager of the Federal Association of Psychosocial Centers for Refugees and Torture Victims (BAfF), the substandard living conditions, often in mass shelters, can be particularly challenging for heavily traumatized individuals, including children. The uncertainty of their legal status, which can remain unresolved for years and the ongoing debates about deportations, further add to the uncertainty, Welz stated. “Many are condemned to passivity, are not allowed to work and have no social opportunities to shape their day or empower themselves”he added.
Racist exclusion can also be a significant source of stress and Welz criticizes the inadequate help offered, stating that a stabilizing or catching-up psychosocial counseling service is often lacking in many shelters. The lack of identification of mental health issues is a common problem as well.
Furthermore, the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act (Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz) excludes refugees from social and health services, according to Welz. “This leads to the fact that only a small part of those who have a need for psychotherapeutic treatment actually receive the necessary financing”he said. Germany, in this regard, has a structural problem.
Welz believes that this situation is politically intended, driven by right-wing populist demands, with the aim of making Germany as unattractive as possible for refugees. “However, a suitable psychological stabilization is a condition for successful integration and participation and should be promoted by the state in a sustainable and nationwide manner”he emphasized.
The recent incident in Aschaffenburg, in which a man from Afghanistan, reportedly suffering from a mental illness, killed a child and an adult, is a tragic example of the consequences of inadequate psychosocial support, Welz said, citing the case of the Aschaffenburg perpetrator, who was reportedly moved to an environment with insufficient psychosocial connections, despite being previously in psychiatric treatment.