Transforming Trauma into Understanding: Supporting Refugee Youth Beyond Behavior

By Christella LUMAMBA, Mentee Writers Hub/GBV & Youth Rights Awareness

The hallways and classrooms of our schools witness many behaviors from refugee youth that alarm teachers, parents, and students alike: anger outbursts, disrespectful language toward teachers, drug use, and even physical confrontations. Many of these young people also engage in risky behaviors like smoking, drinking, and participating in secret parties that lead to unintended pregnancies for some girls.

For those of us who share these classrooms with our refugee peers, it is easy to misunderstand their actions as simple misbehavior or defiance. But what if we looked deeper into the root causes of this behavior? What if we saw these young people as individuals burdened by trauma and hardship?

Refugee students come from countries torn apart by war and violence. They have witnessed horrors that no child or young person should ever see, and they live daily with the knowledge of what they have lost—friends, family members, and their homes. Once they reach the refugee settlement, they face the struggles of adjusting to new lives, often in conditions that lack stability and security. These circumstances deeply affect their mental health, but many of us in the African context still don’t fully understand mental health issues or realize how trauma impacts behavior.

Recognizing Mental Health as the Source of Behavioral Issues

Mental health challenges in refugee youth are often invisible to the eye, but their effects are displayed through actions. These students may struggle to express the hurt, frustration, and fear they carry, which sometimes manifests as anger and aggression. Others turn to alcohol, drugs, or reckless sexual behaviors, not because they lack morals but because they seek to escape painful memories or numb their emotions.

Without proper mental health support, these young people are left to cope alone, often in ways that cause disruption in schools and lead to punishment rather than understanding.

It’s crucial to shift our perspective. Instead of expelling these youths or labeling them as “bad” or “unruly,” we must recognize their behaviors as signs of underlying distress. Schools, teachers, and parents play a vital role here. When faced with such behaviors, let’s pause to ask ourselves, “Why might this young person be acting this way?” Most importantly, let’s remember that their disruptive actions are cries for help—a help they are often afraid to ask for openly.

The Role of Refugee Service NGOs in Raising Mental Health Awareness

Refugee service NGOs have an essential role in helping our communities understand and address mental health challenges. Currently, mental health is not well understood in many African communities. We often overlook psychological distress, assuming that mental health issues are only for other places or cultures to address. However, the trauma these refugee youth carry is real and needs to be addressed. If mental health awareness programs were more prevalent in the Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, teachers, parents, and students would better understand and support those in distress.

These organizations can also implement counseling services for refugee youth, offering them safe spaces to share their stories, fears, and hopes. When young people are listened to, they feel valued. They begin to trust, and their need to express distress through aggression diminishes.

NGOs can also host workshops and discussions to educate teachers and parents about the signs of mental health issues, helping them learn how to approach these young people with empathy rather than punishment.

A Call for Compassion, Patience, and Understanding

Let us, as students, parents, and teachers, work together to make our schools spaces of healing rather than punishment. Expelling these youths only removes them from the one environment that could offer structure and support. Instead, let’s approach them with patience, understanding, and a willingness to listen. When we see a peer struggling, we can offer friendship rather than judgment. When teachers witness challenging behaviors, let’s encourage them to understand the student’s past before deciding on punishment.

Finally, we urgently call upon refugee service NGOs to take action. We need more mental health awareness initiatives within our refugee settlement. These organizations must help our communities understand that mental health is as crucial as physical health. Refugee service NGOs should advocate for the importance of seeking medical attention for mental health issues, and they should offer support that recognizes the trauma these young people carry.

In conclusion, by working together—students, parents, teachers, and NGOs—we can build a community that does not simply ignore or punish the symptoms of trauma but understands and addresses its causes. This compassion will not only improve the lives of our refugee youth but will also create a healthier and more supportive environment for all.

Christella LUMAMBA, Mentee Writers Hub/GBV & Youth Rights Awareness