Minnesota is home to as many as 30,000 torture survivors, as well as to large communities of immigrants who fled conflict and oppression in Africa, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe.
For these people who have already endured so much trauma, learning to live in a new community, going to school and even going to the doctor can all be special challenges.
At the same time, for many communities, schools and health care systems, this influx of immigrants can be a great challenge. Many are unprepared to serve trauma survivors and unfamiliar with traditions in other cultures.
How can we be sure that torture survivors and people who have been traumatized by war can get the care they need in the community? We must be sure that educators, health care providers, human service workers and community leaders understand the effects of torture, know how to recognize the signs of torture and are able to see things from another culture’s point of view.
Think of the Somali woman who tells her doctor she’s been suffering pains in her stomach and hasn’t been able to eat. The doctor may not know that in Somali culture, the stomach – much like the heart in Western cultures – is the locus of pain. The doctor may treat her symptoms, but not know to ask about other traumas that could be causing her pain.
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