Mental disorders, suicidal ideation, substance abuse and emigration choices in vulnerable populations residing in Lebanon during the Covid-19 pandemic and economic crisis – MIRABEL

Our estimatons will be based on a questionnairre survey collected from syrian and palestianian refugees. First, a sample of camps and housing ste will be selected, then refugees households will be sampled in each of them. Questionnaires will be answered by one adult respondant per household.

6 months later, a second wave will be collected online.

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In the wake of the Covid pandemic, but also facing soaring poverty and inequalities, local political instability, and ongoing regional conflicts, and finally enduring a financial crisis of historical magnitude, Lebanon stands today as a paradox of its own, being the country hosting the world’s highest number of refugees per capita, and also one of the world’s highest emigration rate. The accumulation of crises the country is currently facing, and the lack of prospects are likely to have a strong impact on the mental health of the entire population and induce emigration decisions. Our project builds on the assumption that the impact is particularly strong for the most disadvantaged groups, in particular refugees, that is to say both Palestinian refugees and recent Syrian refugees, but also for the Lebanese impoverished by the economic crisis. However, data on their mental health, economic and social situation and migration trajectories or prospects are lacking.

This research aims to address these issues by using data from surveys conducted in two waves among three subsamples of Palestinian refugees, Syrian refugees, and Lebanese citizens from deprived neighborhoods. The same survey tool will be used to pursue two complementary research goals, firstly monitoring mental health problems in these disadvantaged groups in Lebanon and second, tracking aspirations and actual migration, and studying how physical and mental health can determine migration decisions, and how these migrations can in turn affect these dimensions of health. The project will use an innovative survey tool that combines face-to-face collection, telephone, and internet. Besides, it will enable to run a longitudinal survey: respondents will be interviewed a second time after 12 months, including those who will have emigrated. The consortium is multidisciplinary, very experienced and displays complementary disciplines and skillsets. It will combine the clinical expertise of the local team working with these populations on a daily basis and the experience of French research teams working on both migrants’ health research and on the impact of the Covid-19 on mental health, also with a strong experience in migrant surveys. The project will benefit both Lebanon and Europe. In Lebanon, results will inform decision-makers, NGOs and international institutions working in Lebanon on the situation of populations weakened by the crisis. In France and in Europe it will participate to the better anticipation and design of reception policies and programs aimed at migrants of the Middle East.