BBC News, Sweden. This could be dangerous, because if there were a problem with her feeding tube, Sophie could choke. In the middle of this debate are children who know nothing of politics, but know they are abandoned without a future. WebThe symptoms of Resignation Syndrome are similar to those suffering from Catatonia, a behavioral syndrome that involves a lack of proper movement and speech. 26 October 2017. The article in The New Yorker emphasizes that the syndrome is a culture-bound psychopathology. Culture-Bound?, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 10 (2016):doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00007. 3 (2013): xx, doi:10.1007/s00787-013-0433-7. To what extent it is physical, psychological or social is still being hotly debated in the pages of both medical journals and Scandinavian newspaper columns. Looking for a flexible role? [9] Karl Sallin et al., Resignation Syndrome: Catatonia? Thats Changing. Public Radio International. In comparison, countries like Greece, Hungary, and Romania have always been known to have stricter immigration laws; therefore, refugees fleeing to those countries are aware that the chances of their asylum being granted is less. Children may remain in a comatose state for weeks and gradually emerge. Here we might make a comparison with placebo and nocebo effects. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. [20] While there is not enough research to argue that this cultural policy shift in Sweden definitively explains why Resignation Syndrome exists solely in Sweden, it is more probable than the other hypotheses put forth. 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. The hypothesis has two parts: one about the disease or diagnosis itself; and one about the cause of the disease, which may also explain the peculiar distribution. In 1958, the Dr Olssen pressed on her stomach and listened to it with a stethoscope, then listened to her heart and lungs. Of that number, UNICEF estimates that around 46% are children. In this scenario, the parents would not find mental health treatment necessary. 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. 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. This section will examine three causes that may factor into why children suffer from resignation syndrome. That if you provide the right sort of nourishment for those kinds of behaviours in a society, you will also see more cases," says Sallin. Traumatic withdrawal has been seen in groups of asylum seeker and refugee children in European settings where families lack protection and resettlement options. She cried, shouted "Please go and find my dad! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. When her father picks her up from her wheelchair, nine-year-old Sophie is lifeless. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 29, January 2016, childrenconsciousnessHuman Brain Projectneuroethicsneuroscienceresignation syndrome. Called Resignation Syndrome, it affects only the children of asylum-seekers, who withdraw completely, ceasing to walk or talk, or open their eyes. But it should be noted that researchers who proposed that model of disease, they are not certain that there needs to be direct contact between cases. They just cannot activate any motor skills. Here you can choose which regional hub you wish to view, providing you with the most relevant information we have for your specific region. If that is the case, it raises an interesting question: could Resignation Syndrome be contagious? 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. 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. But evidence from the town of Skara in the south of Sweden suggests that there is a way of curing children with Resignation Syndrome even if the family doesn't receive permanent residence. ", "It is different from PTSD in that PTSD, whilst [also] a response to trauma, does not include the element of severe withdrawal, muteness and failure to eat," Professor Newman tells Bustle. Furthermore, there is no medical cure for Resignation Syndrome. "Then the child understands - my mother can't take care of me," Carlshamre explains. Youre Not Alone, How To Stretch Your Hands, According To Physical Therapists, Trainers Say Walking 8,000 Steps A Day Is Just Fine, TYVM, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. Eventually they recover. Kristine Samuelson & John Haptas Recount the Horror of Resignation Syndrome for Life Overtakes Me by Joey Moser January 31, 2020 in Documentary, 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. Karen had found security in Even if they are tube-fed, we put them in the kitchen so they smell food," she says. In light of these weaknesses, the mental hypothesis arguably is not a compelling explanation for why Resignation Syndrome exists. 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. I think of Nette when I read about the sleeping sickness in Sweden. It remains the case that children from particular geographical and ethnic groups are the most vulnerable: those from the former USSR, the Balkans, Roma children, and most recently the Yazidi. Many refugee childrens parents, who have fled to countries other than Sweden, have also faced similar trauma and have subsequently projected this sense of hopelessness onto their sons or daughters. "The most plausible explanation is that there are some sort of socio-cultural factors that are necessary in order for this condition to develop. After the family was granted residency the boy recovered. The oldest children are better able to comprehend the trauma they experience either directly or indirectly through their family members, and also run a greater risk of being exposed to such trauma. 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. 12 (2005): 344, doi:10.1080/08035250510036778. Resignation Syndrome: Catatonia? This is a life-threatening condition needing high level medical care. Theres serious concern about the use of Nauru as a processing centre and the adequacy of health services. But why does this only seem to occur in Sweden? Children may become isolated and appear depressed and irritable. It documents what is known about the syndrome and suggests a new hypothesis. Others are from Balkan countries or former Soviet republics south of Russia. The Ethics Blog is published by the Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics at Uppsala University. Dedicated to your worth and value as a human being! The children moreover seem to retain awareness, even though their immobility makes them seem unconscious. FactCheck Q&A: Has the number of asylum seeker children in detention declined? "Maybe the new baby when it comes will help," says Sophie's father. Thats maybe a clue.. "In some way the child will have to sense that there's hope, something to live for That's the only way I can explain why having the right to stay would, in all the cases I've seen so far, change the situation.". A young Russian girl named Dasha gradually became afflicted with Resignation Syndrome after her family fled to Sweden. Disclaimer: This is an example of a student written essay.Click here for sample essays written by our professional writers. [13][14] As evidenced by medical records, healthcare professionals were aware of this scam and witnessed parents who actively refused aid for their children but remained silent at the time. Karen, meanwhile, a 12-year-old boy seen in Life Overtakes Me, was nearly killed in an ambush that targeted his father. [2] A report published in August 2018 suggested there were at least 30. [3] Karl Sallin et al., Resignation Syndrome: Catatonia? 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. Hultcrantz tests Sophie's reflexes. Clinicians reject this.". Neither is included in the standard psychiatric classification systems. In 2006, a government-commissioned report on the condition in Sweden found that it was "a culture-bound syndrome, a psychological illness endemic to a specific society," according to a report in The New Yorker in 2017. Subsequently, in late 2016, a restrictive family reunification and asylum law came into force. Eventually their condition might progress to stupor, i.e. "All children have such a previous trauma from their home country and many have developed PTSD. The symptoms of Resignation Syndrome are similar to those suffering from Catatonia, a behavioral syndrome that involves a lack of proper movement and speech. [1] An asserted questioning attitude, in particular within the health care system, it has been claimed, may constitute a perpetuating retraumatization possibly explaining the endemic distribution. "We were dragged out. Best wishes These experiences are usually the driving force of what compels families to flee and seek refuge in nearby states. When I explain to the parents what has happened, I tell them the world has been so terrible that Sophie has gone into herself and disconnected the conscious part of her brain. Though it may sound similar to post-traumatic stress syndrome, experts believe that the two are different diagnoses. Accordingly, many asylum-seeking families and individuals fled to Sweden under the impression that they had a high chance of being granted asylum and correspondingly, a secure future living condition. Copyright 20102023, The Conversation US, Inc. [1][6], Currently, diagnostic criteria are undetermined, pathogenesis is uncertain, and effective treatment is lacking.[1]. The little girl was very upset. Bilefsky, Dan. 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. Experiences in detention and processing centres also directly contribute to feelings of lack of safety, anxiety and confusion. [14] Gran Bodegrd, Pervasive loss of function in asylum-seeking children in Sweden, Acta Paediatrica 94, no. Last modified May 26, 2019. [21]Bodegrd in Kenneth P. Nunn et al.Pervasive refusal syndrome (PRS) 21 years on: a re-conceptualisation and a renaming, European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 23, no. Soon afterwards, the family was informed they could not stay in Sweden. Traumatic Withdrawal Syndrome (Resignation Syndrome), collection of examples from Australia in 2018, including reports from diverse patient populations in detention centers. 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. This work takes a lot of energy because we have to live for the children until they start to live on their own.". 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. 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. This whole experience is really totally new to us. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. Medical experts noted there are no adequate medical or mental health facilities on Nauru to treat this condition. While awaiting a residency permit, a boy of Chechnyan descent deteriorated and was left bed-ridden, unresponsive and in need of feeding to sustain. In a presentation in London in 2017, Hultcrantz explained that the children she'd treated with resignation syndrome had all witnessed trauma to family members. 2023 BBC. Those who experience it enter a coma-like state of apathy, not eating, speaking or interacting with those around them. We are dealing with a known diagnosis: catatonia, which is characterized by the same Resignation Syndrome: Catatonia? A crucial issue is to support the family in finding a safe haven and resolution of resettlement issues. We are dealing with a culture bound psychogenesis. The first noted case of resignation syndrome (RS) appeared 1998 in northern Sweden. But if it were true, the syndrome should occur also in other countries. If this is true, it creates an ethical problem mentioned in the article. Dr. Elisabeth Hultcrantz has treated over 40 children with resignation syndrome, including Sophie, who displayed symptoms after her parents were told they were being deported from Sweden. The question then is: Why does catatonia arise only in refugee children in Sweden? [4], Acknowledging its social importance and relevance, the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare recognized the novel diagnostic entity resignation syndrome in 2014. Nonetheless, as a consequence of this uncertainty in applying for residency again, the perceived danger of going back to his place of trauma was psychologically something Karen could not handle. But if I understand Sallin correctly, he thinks that the spread of symptom descriptions through mass media, and the ongoing practice of treating children with resignation syndrome, might be essential in this context. Probably, electromagnetic hypersensitivity is a phenomenon of this kind, having psychological causes: a nocebo effect. A new Netflix documentary, Life Overtakes Me looks at three families coping with resignation syndrome, and it's providing new insights into the psychological trauma of being a child refugee. Accordingly, this paper will focus on a rather peculiar condition known as Resignation Syndrome in which refugee children slowly fall into an unconscious coma-like state as the conscious part of their brain shuts down. Resignation syndrome (RS) designates a long-standing disorder predominately affecting psychologically traumatized children and adolescents in the "The patient is seemingly unconscious. In recent years hundreds of kids around the Scandinavian country have slipped into a mysterious, coma-like state lasting many months or moretransformed from bright, active youngsters into limp creatures in need of round-the-clock care. they stop walking, eating, talking, and grow incontinent. Aviv, Rachel. [3] It was also suggested to be on the 'refusal-withdrawal-regression spectrum'. (Perhaps I should point out that Sallin emphasizes that psychological causes are not to be understood in terms of a mind/body dualism.). She tells Bustle that it develops "as a response to situations of extreme stress and trauma where children feel powerless and essentially withdraw into a state like hibernation in severe cases. Resignation syndrome (RS) and pervasive refusal syndrome share common features and etiologic factors; however, the former is more clearly associated with trauma and adverse life circumstances. Either their families request for asylum is denied, they are not granted permanent residency, or they receive a notice of imminent deportation. (2013). "When I explain to the parents what has happened, I tell them the world has been so terrible that Sophie has gone into herself and disconnected the conscious part of her brain," says Hultcrantz. [12] This witnessing of violence alongside various other threats made against the family compelled them to flee and seek refuge in Sweden. In more precise words, the hypothesis suggests that Resignation Syndrome could have been avoided if parents or other family members had provided sufficient mental health treatment for their children who had suffered from past trauma. 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. He stopped talking, eating, and walking; soon after that he became diagnosed with Resignation Syndrome. [1], Depicted as a culture-bound syndrome, it was first observed and described in Sweden among children of asylum seekers from former Soviet and Yugoslav countries. [8] Furthermore, Sweden's experience raises concerns about "contagion". Therefore, if a child is faced with the uncertainty of being deported back to the place of their suppressed trauma, then that trauma has the possibility of resurfacing. They became catatonic, refusing to eat, talk or move, and often had to be fed via feeding tube and their condition could persist for years. Sweden Toughens Rules for Refugees Seeking Asylum. The New York 2.Times Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. ", and beat the wall with her feet. "We keep the family informed about their progress, but we don't let them talk because the child must depend on our staff. And they just collapse. Sweden's National Board of Health recently stated there were 169 cases in 2015 and 2016. The families of children with Resignation Syndrome share something else in commona constant anxiety driven by the uncertainty of whether they will be allowed to stay in Sweden. "The PTSD patient is stuck with reliving trauma, while in resignation syndrome, the person escapes it by withdrawal of awareness.". It is also important to reiterate that there is incredible stress imbued within the immigration process as well. The largest studied group in Sweden found seriously physically ill, withdrawn children requiring hospitalisation and high level care. Would you like to get in touch with us but not through a comment on the blog? Several hundred cases have been reported, which in 2014 led the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare to introduce a new diagnosis: resignation syndrome. Are doctors ethically obliged to keep at-risk children out of detention? Her mother had been raped in the woods of Siberia but hadnt told her children. Sophie and her family are asylum seekers from the former USSR. Helping children with resignation syndrome, she says, "can take up to 12 months. These childrens toolbox for coping with such trauma is much less than their parents; thus, they run the greatest of falling victims to conditions like Resignation Syndrome. These traumas contribute to high rates of distress and mental health problems. Doctor Hultcrantz knows that the children can be healthy again, they are not damaged for life if you take care of them. Medical and mental health professionals and refugee rights groups are all calling for urgent care for these children. Their children are going to school. The condition has come to be known as Resignation Syndrome. "They promised they will kill us. We want to hear from you! We spend a lot of time on our titles. While the underlying theories of why the condition exists solely in Sweden will be discussed later in the paper, it is critical to highlight that before their affliction, many of these children have been living in Sweden for more than a couple of months. These Are the Toughest Places for Asylum Seekers to Enter Europe. Telegraph.co.uk. Read more: That became our title from the very early on days.. Sophie's mother can only repeat what she has heard from the doctor. [15] In March 2020, a report citing the Swedish Agency for Medical and Social Evaluation, SBU, said "There are no scientific studies that answer how to diagnose abandonment syndrome, nor what treatment works".[16]. 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. (2019; Sweden: Netflix, 2019), Film. It is only when they receive the notice that their request for asylum has been denied or they receive a warning of imminent deportation do they begin to display symptoms of Resignation Syndrome. [4] However, as stated previously, the children affected were only those whose families fled their home country and sought asylum in Sweden. So I have to say that right now, we feel like theres pixie dust on us and were pretty excited.. Accordingly, this hypothesis may, in circumstances when the child has not personally experienced the trauma, explain why Resignation Systems occurs. In September 2015 their car was stopped by men in police uniform. Culture-Bound? The longest time it took for a child to recover was six months. University of Melbourne provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU. 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. Their mental health problems are compounded by a lack of support and mental health services and limited access to family support. Later, Sveriges Television, Sweden's national public television broadcaster, was severely critiqued by investigative journalist Janne Josefsson for failing to uncover the truth. The drama of the war, the uprooting and forced migration from their country of origin under conditions of very high risk, joined to failure to insert in a new context, it represents a traumatic event very powerful. Report calls for royal commission into children in immigration detention: experts respond. 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. 12 (2005): 347, doi:10.1080/08035250510036778. Something peculiar is going on in Sweden, a strange phenomenon affecting children that has defied explanation by doctors and psychiatrists. Copyright 2003 - 2023 - UKEssays is a trading name of Business Bliss Consultants FZE, a company registered in United Arab Emirates. To further this hypothesis, the surprising denial of asylum due to stricter immigration laws is coupled with the refugee childs manifesting fear of returning to his or her place of trauma. But maybe Sallin, just by proposing psychological causes of the symptoms, has already contributed to reducing the number of cases in the future. WebIn English, this became resignation syndrome. This essay may contain factual inaccuracies or out of date material. Some of the Nauru children were very unwell with complications of coma." "To our knowledge, no cases have been established outside of Sweden," writes Dr Karl Sallin, a paediatrician at the Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, part of Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm. Gjinovci first heard of resignation syndrome from a 2017 article in The New Yorker that focused on several refugee families in Sweden with children suffering from the malady. There were reports the children were faking it, and that parents were poisoning their offspring to secure residence. [15] Gran Bodegrd, Pervasive loss of function in asylum-seeking children in Sweden, Acta Paediatrica 94, no. Skodo, Admir. Three days later, her father made contact, and from then on the family remained on the move, hiding in friends' homes until they left for Sweden three months later. In this stage patients are seemingly unconscious and tube feeding is life-sustaining. It estimates that seven had RS, and three had psychosis. Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, JP Morgan snaps up troubled US bank First Republic. Sophie's family have the latter, and it expires in March next year. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Read about our approach to external linking. Some experience separation from important attachment figures. Charcot first suggested that hysteria had organic causes. Many children with the condition were experiencing trauma, including environmental stress and psychiatric disorders in parents and carers. [2], The phenomenon has been called into question, with two children reporting that they were forced by their parents to act apathetic in order to increase chances of being granted residence permits. Resignation syndrome is a rare psychiatric condition that presents as a progressive social withdrawal and reluctance to engage in usual activities such as school [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. From simple essay plans, through to full dissertations, you can guarantee we have a service perfectly matched to your needs. However, the tendency seems to be to point out Swedens crumbling self-image as the relevant cultural context for the disease. Identifying the cause has proven elusive. Feeding tubes help sustain the life of the child, but it does not serve as a medical treatment. With government wanting to maintain policies to deter asylum seekers and prevent entry to Australia, theyre seemingly accepting harm done to those in limbo. 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! severe major depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms or catatonia, or conversion/dissociation disorder. None of those stories were proven. In the early stages of the Syndrome, there was a lot of public speculation regarding the childrens condition. It is up to the parents to transmit this sense of hope as the afflicted children are dependent upon rebuilding security in their lives. 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. In these situations, children appear to give up or resign themselves to an overwhelming situation and cope with this by a profound disengagement or withdrawal. Another potential driving force of Resignation Syndrome is the practice of projective identification. The condition affects predominately psychologically traumatized children and adolescents in the midst of a strenuous and lengthy migration process.[1]. Then everything sort of snowballed. *You can also browse our support articles here >. [11][12] The Economist wrote in 2018 that Doctors without Borders (MSF) refused to say how many of the children on Nauru may have traumatic withdrawal syndrome. Last modified September 27, 2018. https://www.buzzfeed.com/lanesainty/refugee-children-resignation-syndrome-sweden-australia.

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