Abstract

Refugees report lower mental well-being than the average of the German population while depression and post-traumatic stress disorder are more likely. Female refugees more often become mentally ill and less often report well-being than their male counterparts. Despite frequently experiencing miserable living conditions, however, the majority of female and male refugees are not mentally ill. Against this backdrop, the research project focuses on different mental health statuses of refugees. Specifically, the project is about recognized refugees who are being supported by job centres under the Social Code II on their way into the German educational system and the labour market. It follows an institutional approach: its focus lies on perspectives, experiences and practices of placement and counselling staff within the job centres. In addition, the long-term experience of health and counselling institutions that support refugees with different mental health statuses on their way into the labour market and society will be gathered. The project assesses what psychological stress and, vice versa, what psychological potentials can be found within different groups of refugees and how job centre staff deals with them. Female refugees, who participate less in the labour market than males and see job centre counsellors less often, will be given special attention. Moreover, the project will assess in how far job centres utilize internal and external networks in the context of mental health and refuge.