ATLANTA--Catholic Social Services (CSS) has received a $150,000 grant to coordinate a collaborative project which addresses the mental health needs of refugees.

The grant, renewable for two additional years, for a potential three-year grant of $450,000, was received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

It will be used to assist refugees who come to Atlanta suffering from the effects of post traumatic stress disorder due to their experience of war, loss of family members and friends, imprisonment and torture and the dangerous flight from their native countries.

The effects may include flashbacks, emotional numbness, elements of helplessness, powerlessness, depression and physical symptoms. Coupled with the task of adjusting to life in a new country and learning a new language the daily life of a refugee can seem overwhelming.

Because of these stresses a significant number of refugees suffer from low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, anger, loss of control, disillusionment, family turmoil, discord, spousal abuse, divorce, substance abuse, withdrawal and isolation.

Unfortunately mental health services in the Atlanta area are not well-equipped to meet the specific mental health needs of refugees. The public system is already stretched to its limits in addressing the needs of its traditional clients. There are a few experts in the private arena, but the majority of the refugees needing these services are not able to access the private providers.

The CSS project is designed to teach refugees about mental health issues and psychological symptoms; to introduce them to the mental health system and services; to train caseworkers and other paraprofessionals to assist in screening and accessing mental health services for refugees; to train mainstream professional mental health service providers to help refugees who have complex needs; to train interpreters and volunteers; to forge links between the refugees and mental health services and to develop and share knowledge in the area of effective mental health treatment of refugees.

CSS Multicultural Services will coordinate the project and CSS Counseling Services will provide professional supervision. Georgia State University will assist with training components. Members of the Georgia Refugee Advisory Council will help to advise project staff.

With the funding, CSS will be hiring two fulltime counselors to implement the project, working closely with other refugee service providers in the state.