Assessing the psychosocial and counseling needs of Palestinian refugees displaced in Malaysia

Abstract

All refugees suffer from a range of physical, psychological, and social problems that may include memory problems, depression, anxiety, etc. Palestinian refugees in particular need safety and humanitarian assistance due to being victims of forcible and arbitrary displacement from their homeland. The Palestinian refugees displaced in Malaysia have experienced traumatic events and suffer from symptoms of depression and anxiety, in addition to experiencing difficulties in dealing with the stressors of adjustment. The experience of traumatic pain and multiple losses coupled with the struggle for survival in a foreign community place them at risk for diminished health and psychosocial well-being. The refugees’ psychological and psychosocial problems call for more research about them in order to have holistic approach to their issues to compliment the existing efforts. The aim of this study was to investigate the Palestinian refugees’ psychosocial problems in order to provide the proper assistance to overcome trauma, depression, and anxiety. The methodology used was the quantitative research design employing a survey method on a sample of 100. The findings showed that the Palestinian refugees of both genders suffer from symptoms of trauma, anxiety, depression and displacement anxiety at different degrees. The findings also showed that the humanitarian interventions being provided to be inadequate.