“Resilience is not an exact science but instead learned behaviors that vary by context and that evolve over time at the individual, family and societal levels.”
Latest insights from academia, humanitarian workers, and clinicians
Taking a strengths-based, resiliency-oriented and family-centered approach to practical mental health care for refugees around the world. We translate emerging evidence into concrete steps and interventions. Our authors provide examples from various contexts including refugees who are displaced to neighboring countries, refugees ‘on the move’, and refugees and asylum seekers in resettlement settings. Peter Ventevogel, MD, PhD is the senior mental health adviser for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Survivor of Torture/ Refugee Mental Health
Song, S.J. (2021). Mental health effects of unaccompanied children: Effects of U.S. immigration policies. BJPsych Open, 7(6), e200.
Song, S.J. (2021). Protecting the global mental health of forcibly displaced children from the COVID-19 pandemic. Pediatrics, 147(1)
Song, S.J., Subica, A., Kaplan, C., Tol, W. & de Jong, J. (2018). Predicting the mental health and functioning of torture survivors. J Nerv Ment Dis, 206(1), 33-39.
Hassan G., Kirmayer, LJ, Mekki-Berrada, A., … Song, S., & Ventevogel, P. Culture, Context and the Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Syrians: A Review for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support staff working with Syrians Affected by Armed Conflict. Geneva: UNHCR, 2015.
International Medical Corps, UNICEF (2014). Mental health and psychosocial child protection for displaced Syrian adolescents in Za'atari, Jordan. Author: Song, SJ.
Song, S.J., Kaplan, C., Tol, WA., Subica, A., & de Jong, J. (2015). Psychological distress in torture survivors: pre- and post-migration risk factors in a US sample. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 50(4), 549-560.
Global Mental Health
Bapolisi, A., Song, SJ, Ksande, C., Rukundo, G., & Ashaba, S. (2020). Post-traumatic stress disorder, psychiatric comorbidities and associated factors among refugees in Nakivale camp in southwestern Uganda, BMC Psychiatry, (20)53
Kohrt, B & Song, SJ. (2018). Who benefits from psychosocial support interventions in humanitarian settings? Lancet Global Health, 6(4):e354-356.
Song, S. (2011). An ethical approach to lifelong learning: Implications for global psychiatry. Academic Psychiatry, 35:391-396
Child Trauma
Song, S.J. (2021). Book review: The Stars Beneath Our Feet. J of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (60)2:309-310.
Sidhu, S. & Song, SJ. (2019). Growing up with an undocumented parent in America: Psychosocial adversity in domestically residing immigrant children. J of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (58)10:933-935.
De Jong, J., Berckmoes, L., Kohrt, B., Song, S.J., Tol, W., & Reis, R (2015). A public health approach to address the mental health burden of youth in situations of political violence and humanitarian emergencies. Current Psychiatry Reports, 17(7), 60.
Kletter, H. et al. Song, S. (2013). Helping children exposed to war and violence: Perspectives from an international work group on interventions for youth and families. Child and Youth Care Forum Journal, 42(4), 371-388.
Song, S. & Shaheen, M. (2013). Conducting mental health research on trauma in children in low-income countries. Child and Youth Care Forum Journal, 42, 275-283.
Tol, W., Song, S., Jordans, M., et al. (2013). Annual Research Review: Resilience and mental health in children and adolescents living in areas of armed conflict – a systematic review of findings in low- and middle-income countries. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 54(4), 445-460.
Song, S., Belfer, M. (2012) The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child and implications for clinical practice, policy and research. In: International Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists (IACAPAP) Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. J. Reyes, Ed. Geneva.
Pumariega, A., Rothe, E., Song, S., Lu, F. (2010). Culturally-informed child psychiatric practice. Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Clinics of North America, 19(4), 739-57.
Carrion V., Haas B, Garrett A., Song S., Reiss A. (2009) Reduced Hippocampal Activity in Youth with Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms: an fMRI study. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 35(5):559-569
Former Child Soldiers
Song S.J., & de Jong, J. (2015). Child Soldiers: Children associated with the armed forces. North American Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 24(4), 765-775.
Song, S.J., Tol, W.T., & de Jong, J. (2014). Indero: Intergenerational trauma and resilience between Burundian former child soldiers and their children. Family Process, 53(2), 239-51
Song, SJ. & de Jong, J. (2013). Silence and disclosure: Intergenerational indero between Burundian former child soldiers and their children. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 36, 84-95.
Song, S., de Jong, J. (2013). The role of silence in Burundian former child soldiers. Journal for the Advancement of Counselling. DOI 10.1007/s10447-013-9192-x
Song, S., van der Waal, H., & de Jong, J. (2013) Who cares for former child soldiers? Mental health systems of care in Sierra Leone. Community Mental Health Journal, 49(5), 615-624.
Song, S., O’Hara, R., Koopman, C., & Joop de Jong (2013). Intergenerational trauma from Burundian former child soldiers to their children. Special Edition on Child Soldiers, Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 22(7).
Song, S. (2010) Children and Armed Conflict: risk, resilience, and protective factors. Intervention: International Journal of Mental Health, Psychosocial Work and Counseling in Areas of Armed Conflict, 8(2): 173-174.
Please visit this page for additional publications.