Chaplaincy care can play a positive role in asylum centres
29 August 2023
Chaplaincy carers can make a positive contribution to care in asylum seekers' centres, argue Pieter Dronkers, Joanna Wojtkowiak and Geert Smid of the University of Humanistic Studies in last summer's Journal of Religion and Health. The article is available now.
The researchers give three arguments why chaplaincy carers could contribute to the care of asylum seekers. First, chaplaincy is one way to protect the right to health of refugees and to improve their spiritual well-being. Chaplaincy care has a positive impact on mental health, especially in the domain of post-traumatic stress.
Another argument is that chaplaincy services support asylum seekers in exercising their freedom of religion while entrusted to state care. Chaplains can create a safe space for asylum seekers to reflect on their spiritual and religious needs, orientation and belonging. . Finally, chaplains are well positioned to help asylum seekers in rebuilding their life-sustaining web, while at the same time promoting a climate of inclusion and respect in and outside the asylum center.
Read the article in the Journal of Religion and Health.
Pieter Dronkers is assistant-professor in the chair group of Care Ethics at the University of Humanistic Studies.
Joanna Wojtkowiak is assistant-professor in the chair group of Humanist Chaplaincy studies at the University of Humanistic Studies.
Geert Smid is endowed Professor of psychotrauma, loss, and grief of the University of Humanistic Studies. He and also works as a psychiatrist at ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre.
Chaplaincy carers can make a positive contribution to care in asylum seekers' centres, argue Pieter Dronkers, Joanna Wojtkowiak and Geert Smid of the University of Humanistic Studies in last summer's Journal of Religion and Health. You can read the article.