BRIDGING TRAUMA AND RESILIENCE: AN EVIDENCE BASED REVIEW OF PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS IN IMMIGRATION DETENTION AND CUSTODY CENTERS
BRIDGING TRAUMA AND RESILIENCE: AN EVIDENCE BASED REVIEW OF PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS IN IMMIGRATION DETENTION AND CUSTODY CENTERS

Summary/Abstract: Immigration detention is the source of significant psychological risk for detainees, including high levels of trauma, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While worry increases worldwide, though, the quality and quantity of psychosocial interventions in detention centers are patchy. The present paper is an evidence-based overview of psychosocial interventions that can help migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees who are detained in immigration, closed migration centers, and custody and accommodation contexts. Based on theoretical work like Ecological Systems Theory, Cognitive-Behavioral Models of Stress and Adaptation, and Resilience Theory, the review specifies how such approaches guide mental health care plans among detainees. In synthesizing exemplary practices in psychosocial treatment, the study incorporates initial screening for mental illnesses, cognitive-behavioral therapies, trauma-informed services, techniques used to promote resilience, and culture-sensitive interventions. Evidence shows that multimodal interventions—combining individual, group, and community-based approaches—are most successful in alleviating psychological distress and facilitating adaptation among detainees. However, the implementation of such interventions is often hampered by systemic barriers, including limited access to mental health professionals, legal and policy constraints, and ethical issues of coercion and informed consent. The article also addresses ethical and policy considerations and emphasizes the need for rights-based approaches, alternatives to detention, and increasing access to mental health care. Longitudinal follow-up studies of detainees' mental health trajectories after release and comparative studies of community-based alternatives to detention and their impact on psychosocial well-being are suggested for future research. By affirming evidence-based, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive psychosocial interventions, this study can contribute to constructing humane, ethical, and efficient policies for the mental well-being of detained migrants.

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