Supporting the mental health of forcibly displaced children

We address a critical gap in understanding how to effectively support the mental health of forcibly displaced children. We examine what is currently known about mental health risks and resilience, and evaluate which support systems actually work, particularly in low-resource and humanitarian settings. Despite facing war, loss, and prolonged uncertainty, forcibly-displaced children are largely underserved by mental health systems.

Despite nearly 50 million children being forcibly displaced by war and conflict, we lack clear, actionable evidence on how best to support their mental health. This review maps out what we know — and don’t know — about mental health risks, resilience, and the effectiveness of interventions for displaced children. It highlights the urgent need for culturally grounded, family- and community-based approaches, suited to low-resource and humanitarian settings.