ICERAS

After fleeing his native Eritrea as a child and living for years as a refugee, Henok Zaid Gebrsslasie hoped to make a life for himself in the UK. Aged 23, he was found dead at a mental health facility in Coventry, West Midlands, and is thought to have taken his own life. His death is […]

Eritrean refugees, particularly unaccompanied young people, face a disproportionately high risk of suicide while seeking asylum in the UK, with at least 31 suicides among young asylum seekers recorded between 2015 and 2025. A Da’aro Youth Project report highlights that Eritrean nationals make up over half of these deaths, often driven by trauma, mental health […]

Abstract In the last decades, millions of families worldwide have been forced to flee their homes and seek asylum elsewhere due to war, conflict, and persecution. Though these families are exposed to adverse circumstances, studies regarding mental health consequences to these families are scant. In the current study, we examined the mental health of asylum-seeking […]

Background In 2015, majority refugees arriving in Switzerland came from Eritrea. In their home-country or during their journey to Europe refugees experience psychological and physical stress. Such trauma may predispose refugees to mental health disorders. In this study Eritrean refugees who arrived <12 months ago in Switzerland are screened for mental health status and resilience. […]

Despite the extreme challenges, Ephraim’s story is not unique. Many other Eritreans have gone through similar ordeals. While experiences like these can surely cause physical problems, the mental health consequences are far more complex to identify and treat, and their impact can be devastating. In an effort to offer Eritrean refugees comprehensive health care, in […]

A thesis submitted to McGill University in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degreeof DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Multiple studies have found that refugees significantly underutilize mental health services. Yet,little is known about how refugees who live in contexts of protracted displacement cope with andrecover from violence, trauma and chronic stress. The unique experiences of […]

Abstract Objectives:  In this study, we determined the frequency of clinically relevant mental health conditions among Eritrean and Somali refugees in Basel and Zurich, Switzerland and assessed their levels of resilience. Methods:  A cross-sectional study among refugees aged ≥16 years involved validated questionnaires, screening for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), somatic disorders, anxiety, depression, […]

Abstract Objective This study aimed at testing the significance of mediating and moderating roles of sense of coherence, adaptive coping styles and social support in the relationship between exposure to trauma and psychological symptoms in a refugee population in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods A cross-sectional survey design was employed to collect data. The study was carried out in […]

Purpose Many Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) are living in low-income countries and little research has been done to understand this population in these particular settings. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and resilience in Eritrean unaccompanied refugee minors living with foster parents in Sudan. Results Eritrean URM displayed […]

Eritreans have overtaken Afghans as the most common nationality among migrants making the journey to the UK across the English Channel (Gareth Fuller/PA) (PA Wire) Eritreans have become the most common nationality of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel, new figures show. Some 1,291 arrivals in the first three months of 2025 were from […]