Symptoms included unwanted images and thoughts of the incident, flashbacks, nightmares of the event, startled responses etc. As an Afghan man in his early thirties recalled: “I have pictures of dead people in my mind. I want to relax. I want to stop thinking.” An Iraqi man in his early twenties also explained: “During the night, I see blood everywhere. My stomach is in pain and I can hardly sleep.” A key element for the recovery of those suffering early psychological reactions to trauma is a safe, supportive and predictable environment. PTSD can be exacerbated under stress, especially when people are exposed to triggers which remind them of the traumatic incident. The detention context, such as the cells, the physical restrictions, the uniformed police personnel, etc. can reactivate memories of previous traumatic experiences.50 I need to be outside of the cell because inside the cell I think of the bad things that happened to my family. Palestinian adolescent, 14 years old Uprooting Uprooting refers to the experience of being forced to leave one’s familiar surroundings and having to settle in a new and unfamiliar environment for an unknown period of time. Uprooting, among other factors, includes multiple losses, separation from family members and being unable to help them, uncertainty about the future, being forced to adapt to a new environment and stress factors (e.g. detention, joblessness). Most of the migrants seen by MSF teams have experienced uprooting. As an Afghan woman in her early thirties said: “I left my country for a better future but I have not found that. I do not want to be in prison. My family and I have done nothing wrong.” During individual sessions 15% of the patients expressed their anxiety and worry about family members they have left behind. Many patients expressed that they feel worried and guilty for being detained and not being able to work and send money to their families. Many said that they felt ashamed to contact their family. As an Iraqi man in his early twentiestold us: “I am feeling stressed because I am inside here and I cannot provide help for my family in Iraq. I am worried about my children. I have to lie to my family to hide that I am in prison. I have to tell them that I am outside working. I feel weak and hopeless.” Some migrants were worried about family members who were detained in the same detention center and which they had not seen for days. Some also expressed feeling guilty that their families were in detention. I hate myself for bringing my family here. They are also in this prison now. I regret bringing them on this trip. I am thinking of hurting myself if my family is not released soon. Afghan man, in his early thirties Seven percent (7%) of MSF patients sought psychological support because they were worried and uncertain about the future. They were concerned about applying for asylum, finding a job, how to continue their journey to another European country and being able to unite with family members. Drawing by migrant 20