What is it about?
This study looks at how young refugees living in a closed controlled access centre in Greece cope with the challenges of forced migration and camp life. Through small group discussions in their native languages, we explored their experiences of trauma, stress, and uncertainty, but also the ways they manage difficult emotions, support one another, and find meaning. Using a resilience-based perspective (the salutogenic approach), we identified both individual strategies and community bonds that help them endure adversity and foster well-being.
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Photo by AHMAD BADER on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Much research on refugees focuses on trauma and vulnerability. Our study takes a different view: instead of looking only at problems, it highlights the sources of resilience and strength that young refugees draw upon in extremely difficult circumstances. This perspective is essential for designing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services that build on refugees’ own coping resources and community values. By identifying protective factors—such as belonging, solidarity, and meaning-making—we provide evidence for interventions that go beyond clinical care and promote dignity, hope, and social inclusion.
Perspectives
From my perspective as a researcher in social psychology and mental health, this article is especially meaningful. It amplifies the voices of young people who are too often unheard, showing not only their suffering but also their resilience. Writing this paper was an opportunity to bridge academic theory with real-life struggles and strengths. I hope the findings will inspire policymakers, practitioners, and community organisations to create support systems that acknowledge refugees not merely as passive victims but as active agents of resilience and social contribution.
Dr Chrysovalantis Papathanasiou
Panteion Panepistemio Koinonikon kai Politikon Epistemon
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Echoes of resilience: young refugees’ experiences in a closed controlled access centre from a salutogenic perspective, International Journal of Migration Health and Social Care, September 2025, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/ijmhsc-02-2025-0014.
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