“Watching my family being killed by terrorists made me really depressed”: Mental health experiences, challenges and needed support of young internally displaced persons in northern Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Over 3.9 million people have been displaced in Nigeria as a result of the over one-decade-long Boko Haram insurgency and about 2.1 million of this population are internally displaced within the country. Young internally displaced persons (IDPs) are at higher risk of mental illness such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among others, however, there are sparse studies on this population. Therefore, this study explored the mental health experiences, challenges, and needed support for young internally displaced persons in Durumi and New Kuchingoro Internally Displaced Persons Camps in Nigeria. METHODS: This qualitative study was conducted among young IDPs in Durumi and New Kuchingoro IDP camps in Northern Nigeria. Fourteen (14) focus group discussions comprising 89 participants and 30 in-depth interviews with 30 participants were conducted with young IDPs. The interviews were in Hausa and Pidgin English, audio-recorded, transcribed, translated into English, and applied thematic analysis was done using MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2020 RESULTS: A total of 89 participants consisting of 47 males and 42 females participated in the FGDs and IDIs. Five key themes emerged from the FGDs and IDI: (1) knowledge about mental health, (2) mental Health Experiences, (3) coping strategies, (4) availability of mental health and other health Support, and (5) needed support. Young IDPs had fair knowledge about mental healthcare. Participants reported their experience before displacement as being peaceful with members of the family together in a good environment while they experienced stress, trauma, shock, sadness, and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD during and post displacement. Personal coping strategies such as listening to music, engaging in sports, reading books, farming, and other economic activities were reported by participants. Participants reported the absence of structured and specialized mental health support in the IDP camps and solicited mental health, physical health, economic and educational support. CONCLUSION: Young IDPs had negative experiences that led to symptoms of mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD among others with little or no access to quality mental healthcare. Hence, they require specialized and structured mental health support to lead healthy and productive lives. Policy and programs aimed at increasing access to mental health information and services for forced migrants are recommended.