As of: February 26, 2024, 2:45 p.m
By: Dieter Dorby
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In shared accommodation like here in Miesbach, psychological suffering usually goes undetected and untreated.
© Thomas Plettenberg
Accommodation, payment cards, recognition procedures – these are the keywords that are usually in the foreground when it comes to asylum.
Less present is the individual who has fled to Germany and has experienced a lot for that reason alone.
Miesbach – Usually too much, as Max Niedermeier notes.
That's why the integration officer for the Miesbach district welcomes the fact that the trauma aid project is about to start in the district.
“Many of these people are sick,” notes Niedermeier.
But while physical impairments are recognized and treated, psychological wounds usually remain undetected and therefore untreated.
Which can have fatal consequences – not only in shared accommodation, but also later in society after being recognized as a refugee.
Max Niedermeier, integration officer for the district.
© THOMAS PLETTENBERG
The new trauma aid aims to remedy this weak point.
Starting in April, a group of 15 to 20 people - severely traumatized people aged 16 and over - will meet every fortnight for three hours each.
Therapists should lead the group together with trained volunteers and language mediators.
According to Niedermeier, eight volunteers are currently being trained.
The project “Intensive trauma education group for the Miesbach district (for refugees and non-refugees)” is financed by Aktion Mensch, which wants to support the costs for three years with around 170,000 euros.
The application has been submitted but not yet approved.
But things are looking good, says Niedermeier.
The total costs are 190,000 euros.
The non-profit association PIA (Pact for Integration and Work), whose chairman is also Niedermeier and to which the Integration Network also belongs, acts as the sponsor.
The difference of around 20,000 euros will be covered by donations.
According to Niedermeier, the process works like this: helpers who are now trained in psychology recognize people in the shared accommodation who could have a trauma-related problem and offer them help by inviting them to group meetings.
Professional network supported
The Tegernsee Helpers' Circle acts as the coordinator of the project, headed by project initiator Veronika Bauer.
She is supported by the hall doctor Dr.
Susanne Drost.
The E-Werk and the Catholic parish in Tegernsee would provide rooms.
The new trauma aid is supported by the Trauma Pedagogical Intensive Group for Refugees (TRIGG), which has already gained experience with this work in the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district, and its sponsoring company Helpernet, which is responsible for the targeted training.
There is close cooperation with the KBO Lech Mangfall Clinic in Agatharied.
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“Therapy places,” says Niedermeier, “are generally in short supply.”
For refugees there is also the language barrier.
That's why group therapy is also accompanied by language mediators.
As is often the case, the principle is: helping people help themselves.
Professionals and volunteers should provide group therapy with tools for everyday life.
Identifying problems and addressing them – that’s the first step.
“A lot of things are suppressed”
“A lot of things are suppressed for weeks, months and years,” says the PIA chairman.
Africans in particular have had the worst escape experiences.
And Ukrainians are weighed down by the fear and horrors of the war at home.
“Flight through the desert, across the sea, bombed-out houses, fear for family members – that does something to people.” Especially since many are uprooted without their families, without the usual social structure of their homeland that gives the individual security.
Unconscious triggers for anxiety, aggression, lethargy, depression, flashbacks and sleep disorders - all of these need to be brought out in the group sessions.
Stabilization techniques can then be applied individually to help break the automatism of the respective trauma.
According to Niedermeier, this also means less strain on the surrounding area.
And it relieves the burden on the health system, which only needs to concentrate on serious cases.
More time for therapy discussions
Niedermeier describes why trauma support works in this improvised form: “You have more time and are closer to the people.” And it is better than nothing.
“Agatharied is already overloaded with the local population.” He also states: “In terms of trauma, we humans are all similar, regardless of our origins.” But the possibilities of volunteers also have limits.
To help them recognize this, they receive psychological support.
Niedermeier regrets that the burdens that individual refugees carry with them are hardly noticed by the public.
He therefore finds it particularly difficult to describe himself as an economic refugee: “First of all, they are war refugees.” And it is their right that they come to Germany.
“When you’re on the run, you go where you see the best opportunities for the future.”
There are many reasons to leave your homeland.
In Eritrea and Somalia, for example, it is the military and police service, for which you are obliged to do ten years and in which you have to use violence against your fellow human beings - a problem, especially for many Christians, explains Niedermeier.
Trauma help now attempts to heal the wounds of the soul.
Niedermeier is convinced that it is an exciting and, above all, important project that will succeed.
“No one should be turned away.”
ddy