Mental Health in Holocaust Survivors - 1554 Words

American immigrant mental health among second generation holocaust survivors Sarah Getz Suffolk University Rationale†¨ Many American immigrants have been affected in both their mental health and family history by Nazi concentration camp experiences. This group of Americans has a unique cultural and psychological history. Many researchers have focused on this cultural group. The term survivor syndrome (Krystal, 1968; Krystal Niederland, 1971) was coined to describe some of the negative symptoms holocaust survivors experienced. This syndrome is characterized by fatigue and reduced energy, restlessness, inability to concentrate, mistrust of others, pathological expression of mourning related survivors feelings of guilt, chronic anxiety and depression, dread of the future, recurrent nightmares about traumatic experiences, insomnia, social isolation, and other psychological disorders. Various researchers have proposed that some of these symptoms were transmitted to the offspring survivors and even possibly the survivor’s grandchildren. This syndrome has been called the children-of -holocaust-survivors syndrome (CHSS). It has been proposed that the second and third generation survivors may experience loss of identity and difficulty in establishing and maintaining relationships. For example, in an investigation of children-of-holocaust survivors syndrome by Sigal, Silver, Rakoff and Ellin (1973), children of survivors at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal,Show MoreRelatedMental Health Issues In Maus By Artie Spiegelman803 Words   |  4 Pagesfather is a Holocaust survivor, and a prisoner of war; this is the main event of the story. Artie uses imagery in the form of animals to display race in the graphic novel of Maus. The survivors of the Holocaust are burdened with mental disorders; Artie acknowledges the trauma and the effect it has on the survivors as well as the people around them. Artie uses figurative language and imagery to demonstrate relationships and mental health issues. Many characters’ lives are enveloped by a mental issue andRead MoreMental Health Issues In Maus By Artie Spiegelman803 Words   |  4 Pagesfather is a Holocaust survivor, and a prisoner of war; this is the main event of the story. Artie uses imagery in the form of animals to display race in the graphic novel of Maus. The survivors of the Holocaust are burdened with mental disorders; Artie acknowledges the trauma and the effect it has on the survivors as well as the people around them. Artie uses figurative language and imagery to demonstrate relationships and mental health issues. 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