In August 2021, U.S. armed forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan to officially end the war, leaving behind a humanitarian crisis.
More than 120,000 Afghans have fled the country and a total of 75,000 Afghan evacuees are expected to arrive in the United States—with 1,300 expected to be resettled in New York State.
Years of war and conflict take an enormous toll on an individual’s physical and mental health. According to the International Red Cross, people living in conflict-affected areas are three times more likely to experience mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Providing Afghan refugees with the health and mental health services they need as part of their resettlement will be a massive and complex undertaking. Resettlement agencies must now simultaneously rebuild their organizational capacity after years of disinvestment, navigate complex bureaucratic systems, and deliver crucial services to incoming refugees.
Please join NYHealth for a panel discussion with Sebastian Junger, journalist, author, and filmmaker; Molly Carr, executive director, Jewish Family Services of Western New York; and Derek Coy, veterans’ health officer, New York Health Foundation, as they discuss the resettlement of Afghan evacuees, the enduring effects of trauma, and the need for health and mental health services.
The 60-minute webinar will feature a short discussion followed by audience Q&A.
Related resources:
- Article: “Afghans seeking humanitarian relief anxious over long delays”
- Article: “Is the U.S. Failing the Afghan Journalist Diaspora?”
- New York Immigration Coalition: “Afghan NYers, Elected Officials, and Advocates Demand NY Take Leadership Role in Accepting Refugees”
- NYHealth report: “Opening Doors: A Sustainable Refugee Health Care Model“