A prominent humanitarian group has warned of a worsening mental health crisis among asylum-seekers trapped at refugee camps on three Greek islands, saying its research reveals severe symptoms among people of all ages and backgrounds, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and self-harm.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC), in a new report on Thursday, said nearly 15,000 people remain stranded at the European-Union funded Reception and Identification Centres, camps known as “hotspots” that were set up on Europe’s borders almost five years ago to swiftly process applications for asylum.
Citing data collected from 904 asylum-seekers supported by its mental health programmes on the islands of Lesbos, Chios and Samos, the IRC said one in three of its clients reported suicidal thoughts, while one in five reported having made attempts to take their lives.
The Greek government appears to be pleased because the number of refugees and migrants residing in reception facilities has fallen by 25 percent since the beginning of the year.
Moreover, the number of new arrivals from Greece’s eastern borders has decreased by 78 percent compared to last year.
The residents of the Aegean islands that are the point of entry for most migrants are also relieved because those residing in Reception and Identification Centres has fallen by 62 percent.
Naturally these numbers do not signal a resolition of the refugee issue.
As the UN High Commissioner for Refugees wrote in a piece published by Ta Nea today the total number of asylum seekers and displaced people has reached one percent of the global population.
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