Minderjarige vluchtelingen die zichzelf verwonden lopen een groot risico op zelfmoord. Tot die conclusie komt onderzoekster Sarah Verroken (VUB) in haar masterproef. Heel wat jonge vluchtelingen voelen zich sociaal geïsoleerd. Bovendien hebben ze vaak het gevoel anderen alleen maar tot last te zijn. Een uiterst gevaarlijke cocktail, zeker voor die minderjarige vluchtelingen die zichzelf al meermaals verwondingen hebben toegebracht. Volgens Verroken moeten hulpverleners afstappen van de clichés en luisteren naar de noden van elke minderjarige vluchteling.
Volgens heel wat psychologen kan zelfverwonding leiden tot zelfmoord. Twee factoren spelen daarbij een cruciale rol: sociale isolatie en het gevoel anderen tot last te zijn. Net deze twee factoren zijn volgens Verroken in hoge mate aanwezig bij vluchtelingenjongeren die zichzelf ooit verwond hebben. “Het maakt ze dus uitermate kwetsbaar voor zelfmoord. 68% geeft bovendien aan zichzelf zes of meer keer verwond te hebben. Ter vergelijking, bij de Westerse jeugd is dat ongeveer 25%. Zelfverwonding bij jonge vluchtelingen als een roep om aandacht afdoen, is dus klinkklare onzin. Integendeel, het is een uiterst ernstig alarmsignaal: de gevluchte jongere is, letterlijk, in levensgevaar.”
Mentale veerkracht…
In januari 2017 telde België 7.704 minderjarige vluchtelingen, waarvan 2.057 zonder begeleiding het land binnenkwamen. Stuk voor stuk kinderen die hals over kop afscheid namen van lief en leed. Onderweg geconfronteerd werden met geweld en onveiligheid. Hun vrienden of familieleden vermoord zagen. En door mensensmokkelaars koudweg gedropt werden in een land waar ze de taal en cultuur niet begrijpen.
Verroken: “Maar de veerkracht van de jongeren die in ons land terechtkomen, is ongelooflijk. Enkel de sterksten en meest veerkrachtigen onder hen lukken in hun tocht en bereiken veiliger oorden. Dat deze jongeren na zo een waanzinnige reis in hun opzet geslaagd zijn Europa te bereiken, kan bovendien positieve effecten hebben op hun mentale gezondheid. Wat natuurlijk helpt om hier in België de draad terug op te pikken.”
Dat verklaart wellicht dat ‘slechts’ evenveel minderjarige vluchtelingen als Westerse minderjarigen aangeeft zichzelf ooit opzettelijk verwond te hebben: ongeveer één op vijf.
…maar een broos evenwicht
Heel wat minderjarige vluchtelingen verwonden zichzelf. Zowel jongens als meisjes op de vlucht, krassen zichzelf of slaan of bonken uit frustratie op allerlei voorwerpen. De handen, polsen of armen moeten er het vaakst aan geloven. Op zich is dat vergelijkbaar met hun Westerse leeftijdsgenoten. Maar samen met de hierboven benoemde factoren, sociale isolatie en het gevoel anderen tot last te zijn, is het een dodelijke combinatie. “De minderjarige vluchtelingen in België zijn een sterke groep, maar zij die het moeilijk hebben zijn niet in vakjes onder te verdelen,” waarschuwt Verroken. “Ze lopen een hoog risico tot zwaardere mentale problemen en zelfs zelfdoding. Een onveilig verleden, verwarrend heden en een onzekere toekomst voorspellen dus niet per se mentale problemen, maar de ernst van die problemen wordt wel groter.”
Luisteren naar elk individu
Maar waarom verwonden de jongeren zich dan precies? “72% van de vluchtelingenjeugd doet het om zelfmoord te oefenen. Bij 67% hielp het om met ongemakkelijke gevoelens om te gaan. Andere redenen waren omgaan met stress, druk, frustratie of woede en zichzelf helpen huilen,” zegt Verroken. Ook dat verschilt weinig van de Westerse jeugd. “Maar net zoals bij een Westerse jongere, hebben elk van deze jongens en meisjes op de vlucht, behoefte aan een luisterend oor. Van iemand die hen uit hun isolement haalt. Van iemand die hen het gevoel geeft dat ze iets waard zijn. Hulpverleners moeten dus afstappen van de clichés, en elke individuele jongere de aandacht geven die hij of zij verdient.”
Voor meer info over zelfverwonding en hoe te reageren, surf naar www.zelfverwonding.be. Voor vragen over zelfmoord, bel 1813 of surf naar www.zelfmoord1813.be.
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