The center cares for refugees who have experienced and survived war, flight, torture and violence. Mozhgan Shafiee is one of them. She fled Iran six years ago with her husband and son. As converted Christians in a country where there is no religious freedom, they had no other choice.
Traumatic experiences on the run
Before they arrived in Germany, they spent four years in a refugee camp in Greece. Medical care was poor and a decent life was hardly possible. That has left its mark, says Shafiee, even though she has been in Germany for two years now.
The fears continued to accompany her and her son slipped into depression with suicidal thoughts. “You need someone to give you a hand and then put everything back together with you,” she says.
Waiting lists for psychosocial therapies
Shafiee and her family were able to get help at the Psychosocial Center (PSZ) in Aachen. It is the only center in the region that focuses on psychological therapies for refugees, most of them with uncertain residence status.
The team here is international, the demand is great, around 3,000 people sought help here last year, from Ukraine alone. There are already waiting lists.
Family Ministry: Less money because of the debt brake
Although more money would actually be needed, the federal government is planning to make savings here because of the debt brake. When asked, a spokesman for the Family Ministry said: Instead of the previous 17 million euros, the traffic light government wants to spend 12 million euros next year on advice and support in the centers.
This has concrete consequences for the Aachen PSZ, says managing director Marie-Therese Aden-Ugbomah. You have to expect at least 65 percent less money. “This cut means that we can no longer accommodate refugees from Ukraine to this extent and will have to significantly reduce our therapy offerings.” Last year, the PSZ received €143,000 and €7,000 in additional funding to support students who have fled Ukraine.
Psychological undersupply could worsen
As a result of the cuts, there is already talk of individual PSZs being closed, said Aden-Ugbomah. The already existing psychological undersupply could become even worse.
For Shafiee, the start in Germany would have been a lot more difficult without the Aachen PSZ. “I am grateful every day that I got to know the PSZ,” she says. In Iran, Shafiee was a high school teacher. Today she lives with her husband and son in Übach-Perlenberg, is active in the community, is learning German – and wants to start working life again as soon as possible.
WDR will also report on this topic on television on December 19, 2023 on WDR Lokalzeit from Aachen.
Our sources:
- Federal Ministry for Family Affairs
- PSZ Aachen
2023-12-19 19:35:52
#money #psychological #care #refugees #Aachen
