This qualitative study aims to explore the difficulties experienced by Syrian refugees living in the camps of Turkey in the pre-migration and post-migration environment and the impacts thereof on their mental wellbeing. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Syrian refugees living in three different camps on the Syrian border of Turkey. Syrian refugees were highly exposed to traumatic events in the pre-migration period, including armed conflicts, human rights violations, and social and economic devastation. Participants reported a wide range of difficulties in the post-migration environment, including separation from and loss of close ones, camp difficulties, gender-based, adaptational and economic adversities. They reported a number of psychological and social effects of these pre-migration and post-migration difficulties. The implications of the findings are discussed and recommendations are made concerning the necessity of a rights-based approach to policies and interventions for mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of Syrian refugees. © 2018 The Authors. International Migration © 2018 IOM

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international migration Turkey immigration policy socioeconomic status refugee mental health