Crossing Borders: Substance Misuse and Mental Health Challenges in East African Refugee and Migrant communities

13 Aug

Guest Speaker: Dr Mohamed Ibrahim

In honour of World Refugee Week, this episode titled "Crossing Borders: Substance Misuse and Mental Health Challenges in East African Refugee and Migrant communities" focuses on exploring the challenges faced by East African refugee and migrant communities, with Dr Mohamed Ibrahim.

Dr Ibrahim sheds light on the critical differences between traditional Western frameworks of psychiatry and the holistic approaches often embraced by East African communities. He argues that Western models frequently overlook spirituality and religion, which are integral to many in these communities.

Dr. Ibrahim also discusses the importance of decolonizing psychiatry and psychology curricula to better serve these populations. By integrating holistic treatments that consider the mind, body, and spirit, practitioners can offer more culturally relevant and effective care. The conversation emphasises the need for a more inclusive approach to mental health and substance misuse that respects and incorporates the diverse beliefs and practices of East African communities.

Listen now on Spotify