Many refugees live for years in exile.
The combination of stress in the host country, together with long-term
effects resulting from traumatic stress usually experienced in the home
country may affect mental health. Little is known, to what extent these
and other factors promote or stall the willingness to return to the country
of origin. Here, we investigate, as an example, refugees who will return
to their country of origin after having lived in exile in Germany for some
11 years.
What is the mental health status of
returnees before the actual return who have been living in exile for an
extended period? We also asked, what are the current living conditions
in Germany and what are the motives for and reasons against a voluntary
return to the country of origin?