The little girl was very upset. This theory is more preventative as it stipulates that had these refugee children received proper mental health treatment upon experiencing this trauma, they may have never fallen ill. Kristine Samuelson & John Haptas Recount the Horror of Resignation Syndrome for Life Overtakes Me by Joey Moser January 31, 2020 in Documentary, Yet, as previously mentioned, no reported cases have been reported past Swedish national boundaries; therefore, the psychodynamic hypothesis falls short of explaining this bizarre phenomenon. Sophie and her family are asylum seekers from the former USSR. Louise Newman is affiliated with the human rights group Doctors for Justice and is a past advisor to the Department of Immigration on the mental health of asylum seekers and refugees. Karen had found security in Last modified February 5, 2016. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/12140900/These-are-the-toughest-places-for-asylum-seekers-to-enter-Europe.html. A refugee child might suppress these experiences but such trauma stays with them and so, they seek out security in countries like Sweden. (2019; Sweden: Netflix, 2019), Film. Nunn, Kenneth P., Bryan Lask, Isabel Owen, and Gran Bodegrd. Elisabeth Hultcrantz: Children disconnect the conscious part of their brain, Annica Carlshamre: This sickness has to do with trauma, not asylum, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Overtakes. [I] started playing with that word, and Life Overtakes Me emerged. Sweden: By Turns Welcoming and Restrictive in Its Immigration Policy. Migrationpolicy.org. Looking for a flexible role? [5] At first, these affected children withdraw from social activities and slowly draw into themselves. Karen, meanwhile, a 12-year-old boy seen in Life Overtakes Me, was nearly killed in an ambush that targeted his father. Affected individuals (predominantly children and adolescents) first exhibit symptoms of anxiety and depression (in particular apathy, lethargy), then withdraw from others and care for themselves. The longest time it took for a child to recover was six months. The intensive and specialist treatment needed cannot be provided in Nauru. Accordingly, this hypothesis may, in circumstances when the child has not personally experienced the trauma, explain why Resignation Systems occurs. "I can only keep her alive. [5] Catatonia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment, WebMD, last modified January 30, 2019, https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/what-is-catatonia#1. So some of these families have been in Sweden a year, a year and a half. We are dealing with a known diagnosis: catatonia, which is characterized by the same loss of motor skills. In the case of Daria, a seven-year-old girl in the film, her father went on the run after government agents in an unspecified country (the filmmakers leave out such details to protect their subjects anonymity) threatened him over his internet company. Common features are the ongoing nature of the trauma and the childs feelings of hopelessness and helplessness in the face of inescapable stress. When that happens, to where or what can the child turn?". Probably, electromagnetic hypersensitivity is a phenomenon of this kind, having psychological causes: a nocebo effect. The real issue hasn't been dealt with - it's limbo," says Dagson. [1]Swedens Mystery Illness: Resignation Syndrome, Doctors of the World, last modified February 20, 2018, https://doctorsoftheworld.org/blog/swedens-mystery-illness-resignation-syndrome. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. So we might take a little bit of Coca Cola, and put it in their mouth so they taste something sweet. Its one of 10 short docs shortlisted for Academy Awards consideration. Its important, we think, Samuelson affirms. The article enumerates cases where it can be suspected that catatonia-like conditions are caused psychologically: unexpected, unexplained sudden death after cancer diagnosis; death epidemics in situations of war and captivity characterized by hopelessness; acute or prolonged death after the utterance of magic death spells (known from several cultures). [1] In total, there have been approximately 800 cases of children suffering from the condition. "After a couple of days, I noticed she wasn't playing as much as she used to with her sister," says Sophie's mother, who is expecting a new baby next month. Aviv, Rachel. They frequently resist others attempts to support or encourage them to engage. Traumatized Children And Resignation Syndrome Professor Newman tells Bustle that the issue of asylum-seekers in Australia has been "highly politicized," and there have been "accusations that the condition is merely attention-seeking or manipulation. Resignation syndrome is a rare psychiatric condition that presents as a progressive social withdrawal and reluctance to engage in usual activities such as school I think it is a form of protection, this coma they are in," she told Doctors Of The World. We are dealing with a culture bound psychogenesis. Pervasive loss of function in asylum-seeking children in Sweden.. Their days are punctuated by Sophie's regime - exercises to stop her muscles wasting, attempts to engage her with music and cartoons, walks outside in a wheelchair, feeding and changing. The affected children all come from refugee families that have fled to Sweden after experiencing persecution of some kind. Resignation Syndrome is a defense mechanism for unbearable stress, and thus an example of the unexpected ramifications of refugeedom, which upends lives and These experiences are usually the driving force of what compels families to flee and seek refuge in nearby states. [2] A report published in August 2018 suggested there were at least 30. Furthermore, while mental health treatment may help the child move past their personally experienced trauma, the trauma of their parents may still be projected onto them. At first, right-wing Swedish officials, certain sectors of the Swedish public, and even a handful of medical researchers believed the children were faking their symptoms or the parents were poisoning their children. They have seen no change in their daughter in 20 months. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Sophie was in the car so she witnessed me and her mother being roughly beaten," remembers Sophie's father. In many cases, refugee mothers (and occasionally fathers) have been subject to traumatizing experiences such as rape or physical abuse, motivating them to sever their ties to their home state and flee to another country. Dr Olssen pressed on her stomach and listened to it with a stethoscope, then listened to her heart and lungs. Here Sallin hits on the main obstacle to understanding Resignation Syndrome - the lack of research into it. When children witness violence or threats against a parent, their most significant connection in the world is ripped apart, the carers at Solsidan believe. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line, Why an Indian comedian is challenging fake news rules. All work is written to order. While theyre there, Swedens taking care of themtheyre housed, they have medical care. [14] The mother and/or father, unable to cope, are believed to project their trauma onto their child, who has often either directly witnessed or heard about the abuse suffered by either parent. Then everything sort of snowballed. Reports from Nauru are raising concerns about an outbreak of a severe trauma-related mental disorder known as traumatic withdrawal syndrome, or resignation syndrome. Registered office: Creative Tower, Fujairah, PO Box 4422, UAE. So somehow - and we do not know the mechanism for this, and why it should happen in Sweden - the kind of symptoms displayed by the children are culturally sanctioned: this is a way the children are allowed to express their trauma. Doctor Hultcrantz knows that the children can be healthy again, they are not damaged for life if you take care of them. Sophie's family have the latter, and it expires in March next year. The ongoing treatment involves promoting a sense of safety and supporting a process of "waking up" and engaging in trauma therapy." Many children with the condition were experiencing trauma, including environmental stress and psychiatric disorders in parents and carers. In this particular case, we sat down with some poetry booksYou are looking for topics that have to do with poems about people suffering, poems about people seeking comfort. Life Overtakes Me - Wikipedia It did feel otherworldly and mythological in this very fundamental and strange way, Samuelson comments. Resignation syndrome is a rare psychiatric condition that presents as a progressive social withdrawal and reluctance to engage in usual activities such as school and play. Write an article and join a growing community of more than 163,400 academics and researchers from 4,609 institutions. So how can an illness respect national boundaries? Of the refugee children who have siblings, it was often the oldest child who is affected by the syndrome. Resignation syndrome is a strange disorder thats been occurring in Sweden for decades in the child and adolescent refugee population. After a review of symptoms and treatment response, Sallin suggests that we are not dealing with a new disease. Of course, it is important to note that this could also be a coincidence as there is no proven correlation between the two. It is important to highlight that these are simply theoretical hypotheses, as there is not enough research on Resignation Syndrome to garner a definitive answer. TheLastMovieStars Director Ethan Hawke On How Paul Newman And Joan Woodward Set High-Water Mark For Hollywood Contenders TV: Docs + Unscripted, Nikole Hannah-Jones On Controversy Around The 1619 Project: This Is Not Actually A Radical Project Contenders TV: Docs + Unscripted, Judy Blume Forever Filmmakers Discuss Beloved Author Who Inspires Devotion, And Book Banning Contenders TV: Doc + Unscripted, Latest News, The Issues, Movies & TV Shows Affected & How Long It Might Last, Netflix Lands Adam McKays New Comedy Average Height, Average Build, Are You There God? Didnt Get Its Prayers Answered: Heres Why, Serious Moments For Media Give Way To Satire & Mirth; Biden & Wood Remarks. Karen, meanwhile, a 12-year-old boy seen in Life Overtakes Me, was nearly killed in an ambush that targeted his father. Last modified January 30, 2019. Have you heard of - Karen Organization of Minnesota He stopped talking, eating, and walking; soon after that he became diagnosed with Resignation Syndrome. If you want to think more about this puzzling question, I recommended a new article in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, with Karl Sallin (PhD student at CRB) as first author. What is resignation syndrome and why is WebAmid that uncertainty, Karen fell ill again. He stopped talking, eating, and walking; soon after that he became diagnosed with Resignation Syndrome. Her mother had been raped in the woods of Siberia but hadnt told her children. "We play for them until they can play on their own. Similar behaviors were also observed during the Holocaust; in his Frontiers article, Karl Sallin describes the phenomenon of the "muselmann" in Nazi concentration camps, in which people without hope began refusing food and entered a catatonic state. [16] In doing so, the mothers sense of hopelessness is no longer projected upon Dasha, thereby, reawakening [her] lust for life.[17]. [1][6], Currently, diagnostic criteria are undetermined, pathogenesis is uncertain, and effective treatment is lacking.[1]. 12 (2005): 344, doi:10.1080/08035250510036778. Whilst the exact causes of Resignation Syndrome remain an enigma, it is generally thought to be brought on by a severe lack of hope and intense stress, fuelled by extremely distressing asylum processes, previous traumatic events, and social exclusion. There are many factors contributing to trauma for child asylum seekers and refugees. To be more specific, with proper treatment of past traumatic experiences, these refugee children are not forced to suppress their trauma or have it resurface when there is a threat of deportation. These adolescents have frequently experienced physical or psychological trauma from their home countries, a factor that compelled their families to flee and seek asylum in Sweden. In light of these weaknesses, the mental hypothesis arguably is not a compelling explanation for why Resignation Syndrome exists. One of these children was Karen, a twelve-year-old refugee from Eastern Europe and the oldest of three siblings. Moreover, in certain circumstances, parents may not take notice of the trauma experienced by the child if they are still in shock or if they deny having experienced the trauma in the first place. Can a Coma Be Contagious? - The New York Times Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For nearly two decades Sweden has been battling a mysterious illness. severe major depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms or catatonia, or conversion/dissociation disorder. To reiterate, this hypothesis argues that the recently more restrictive changes to Swedens immigration laws, including a stricter asylum policy, explains Resignation Syndromes regional distribution. Child Trauma on Nauru The Facts. Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Treatment of severe withdrawal is urgent, and can only be undertaken in a hospital setting with specialist paediatric teams and capacity for nutritional support, intravenous rehydration and monitoring of kidney and other bodily functions. The children affected by the syndrome are primarily young adolescents ranging from 7 to 19 years of age.[3]. The first noted case of resignation syndrome (RS) appeared 1998 in northern Sweden. To reiterate, it has been demonstrated that in the projection of the mother or fathers trauma onto their child, the son or daughter gradually recognizes the trauma as his or her own. Read about our approach to external linking. Those who experience it enter a coma-like state of apathy, not eating, speaking or interacting with those around them. The sever culmination of resignation syndrome is when sufferers enter into a comatose state in order to escape their intolerable reality. Unlike Sophie, the children affected have often been living in Sweden for years, speak the language and are well-adjusted to their new, Nordic lives. Nola didnt resist the intrusion. The UNHR says that there are around 24.5 million refugees and 3.1 asylum-seekers worldwide in 2019, displaced from their homes by war, disaster or persecution. This blog is published by the Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics (CRB) at Uppsala University. "I can't say it's not possible, but it all depends how the parents sense this - are we going to stay after these 13 months? Socialstyrelsen B. More precisely, no medicine can help the child regain both his or her motor functions and livelihood. [11] However, this renewed sense of security does not guarantee recovery, and if the child does recover, it takes a long time to feel secure as nightmares and stress continue to linger. In the last fifteen years, hundreds of traumatized refugee children living in Sweden, but originating primarily from Slavic countries like Russia, have become afflicted. Resignation syndrome Resignation Syndrome: Catatonia? [8] Only after tests were run, was it shown that there was neither outside manipulation nor were the kids faking the illness, these children were seriously sick. [19] Dan Bilefsky, Sweden Toughens Rules for Refugees Seeking Asylum, The New York Times Breaking News, World News & Multimedia, last modified June 21, 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/22/world/europe/sweden-immigrant-restrictions.html. In the middle of this debate are children who know nothing of politics, but know they are abandoned without a future. Resignation Syndrome was first reported late in the 1990s, but there has been an increase in the number of cases in the last two years (2017- 2019). It estimates that seven had RS, and three had psychosis. Life Overtakes Me Doc Reveals Strange Medical Young people reportedly develop depressive symptoms, become socially withdrawn, and become motionless and speechless as a reaction to stress and hopelessness. Recent legal action resulted in urgent medical evacuation of a child in an unconscious state following a progressive social withdrawal and failure to speak, eat or drink. Visit our Swedish-language blog, Etikbloggen, where we write about national issues. [3] It was also suggested to be on the 'refusal-withdrawal-regression spectrum'. Sophie's mother took her to a friend's home. Yet, in 2015, a record-breaking 162,877 asylum seekers entered Sweden, which along with Germany was the preferred destination for a wave of Syrians, Afghans, Russians, and others who reached European soil in search of protection and better lives. No-one has done follow-up on what happens to these children, but we do know that they survive. WebAmid that uncertainty, Karen fell ill again. The Swedish syndrome appears to be a mystery, almost like a puzzle to crack. Called Resignation Syndrome, it affects only the children of asylum-seekers, who Some are traumatised by experiences in their countries of origin and the process of fleeing. https://www.crb.uu.se/personal/karl-sallin/, Uppgivenhetssyndrom hos flyktingbarn en ny hypotes | ETIKBLOGGEN, Only in Sweden - Bioethics Research Library, The New Yorker features resignation syndrome | Bioethics Research Library, Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics (CRB), Taking care of the legacy: curating responsible research and innovation practice. Resignation syndrome in refugee children a new According to reports, the mystery illness was first seen in Sweden in the 1990s - but grew rapidly by the mid-2000s. Applicants are granted either a three-year or 13-month visa. There are instances reported in Australian [refugee] detention centers, which are pretty awful places, Haptas states. [20] Senay Boztas, These Are the Toughest Places for Asylum Seekers to Enter Europe, Telegraph.co.uk, last modified February 5, 2016, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/12140900/These-are-the-toughest-places-for-asylum-seekers-to-enter-Europe.html. Could it be that spreading awareness of this phenomenon is actually causing more cases and doing more harm than good? "Then the child understands - my mother can't take care of me," Carlshamre explains. But Sophie's father did not escape. To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below: If you are the original writer of this essay and no longer wish to have your work published on UKEssays.com then please: Our academic writing and marking services can help you! In line with this narrative, a report published in the Asylum Seeker Resource Center (ASRC) stated that these children cannot recover from [their home country] because [their home country] is the cause of their trauma. Twenty months is a very long time for a child of her age to be disengaged from the world. [10] She goes on to describes the afflicted childs recovery as more sound, more life in the house the siblings are more joyful the parents sit around the child and they touch the child and they hug the child. And we goof around a lot and dance and listen to music. Resignation syndrome appears to be a very specialized response to the trauma of refugee limbo, in which families, many of whom have escaped dangerous circumstances in their home countries, wait to be granted legal permission to stay in their new country, often undergoing numerous refusals and appeals over a period of years. This essay may contain factual inaccuracies or out of date material. In the worst cases, children reject any food or drink and have to be fed by feeding tube;[1] the condition can persist for years. Last modified September 27, 2018. https://www.buzzfeed.com/lanesainty/refugee-children-resignation-syndrome-sweden-australia. Though it may sound similar to post-traumatic stress syndrome, experts believe that the two are different diagnoses. The law introduced new restrictions on asylum seekers, including rules that would limit the number of people granted permanent residency and make it more difficult for parents to reunite with their children.[19] This law may be correlated to the increase in the number of Resignation Syndrome cases starting in 2017. According to witnesses cited by the Swedish magazine Filter, one of the children profiled in the film was pressured by her parents to simulate resignation syndrome for the express purpose of improving the family's prospects for permanent residence status in Sweden. Eventually their condition might progress to stupor, i.e. Accordingly, the theory argues that in the treatment of trauma, the children never run the risk of falling into this comatose state; and so, Resignation Syndrome can be prevented. Theres Uighurs, theres Roma, Yazidis. But maybe Sallin, just by proposing psychological causes of the symptoms, has already contributed to reducing the number of cases in the future. "You need to harden your heart with these cases," says Sophie's paediatrician, Dr Lars Dagson, who has seen her regularly throughout her illness. As a result of these recent restrictive immigration laws passed in Sweden, it is plausible to argue that the recent cultural change in Swedish society serves as both a contributing factor of Resignation Syndrome as well as a sufficient explanation for why the illness exists only in Sweden. For instance, before migration, children may experience the stress of living through a state war, the loss of a parents career (frequently leading to a lack of funds), critical illness, the sexual or physical abuse of a family member, or the witnessing of violent acts such as murder. Identifying the cause has proven elusive. There were reports the children were faking it, and that parents were poisoning their offspring to secure residence. This outbreak raises serious questions about the impact of our offshore facilities for vulnerable populations and the capacity of the current system to respond adequately. But if it were true, the syndrome should occur also in other countries. They are unresponsive, even to pain. Only a tiny number have been unaccompanied migrants, none have been African, and very few have been Asian. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Father tells how gunman opened fire on Texas home, Trump says 'great to be home' on visit to Scotland, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, Indian 'killer' elephant relocated to tiger reserve. Later, Sveriges Television, Sweden's national public television broadcaster, was severely critiqued by investigative journalist Janne Josefsson for failing to uncover the truth. If this is true, it creates an ethical problem mentioned in the article. He initially adjusted well after resettlement in Sweden, but then, like Daria, he too fell into a catatonic state and now must be nourished through a feeding tube threaded down his nose. Sophie heard everything in that meeting with the Migration Board, and it was at this point that she stopped speaking and eating. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Swedish doctor, Gran Bodegrd describes the children as passive, immobile, withdrawn, mute, incontinent, and not reacting to physical stimuli or pain.[6]. The explanation sounds intuitively reasonable, considering these childrens experiences. Accordingly, these restrictive laws foster a feeling of uncertainty amongst previously traumatized refugee children as their expectations of staying in Sweden are shattered. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Then, quite quickly, Sophie deteriorated. In the early stages of the Syndrome, there was a lot of public speculation regarding the childrens condition. (2013). Is climate change killing Australian wine? When her father picks her up from her wheelchair, nine-year-old Sophie is lifeless. A crucial issue is to support the family in finding a safe haven and resolution of resettlement issues. Resignation The catatonia hypothesis can be tested, Sallin suggests, by trying treatments with known responses in catatonic patients, and by performing PET scans of the brain. Life Overtakes Me is now streaming on Netflix, making it available to audiences around the world, including Sweden where it could potentially impact the politics that swirl around refugee matters. "That is sort of implicit in the model. In 1958, the "Typically a depressive onset is followed by gradual withdrawal progressing via stupor into a state that prompts tube feeding and is characterized by failure to respond even to painful stimuli," a study of the phenomenon in Frontiers In Behavioral Neuroscience found in 2016. But Sophie's eyes are closed. Hundreds of Young Swedish Asylum-Seekers Are Falling Here an article quoting Sallin about the copycat syndrome: https://www.bioedge.org/mobile/view/only-in-sweden/11799. Sophie's parents have a terrifying story of extortion and persecution by a local mafia. Alternatively, one could say that catatonia is caused in the meeting between certain cultures and Swedish conditions, since it is more common in children from certain parts of the world. To Dasha, this profound change in the reality of their situation was accepted as a truth only when her mother, sensing greater security in her life, was able to move past her trauma and overcome her hopelessness.
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