The Story Behind the Story: Erika Beras Discusses her Series on Refugee Health

Erika Beras is the Behavioral Health reporter for NPR affiliate WESA. Her recent series explored the challenges refugees face – particularly in health and access to health care.

She focused on how refugees in Pittsburgh are managing their transition to their new homes. Though language and cultural barriers, as well as traumas from their past, often make that difficult.  

She said she assumed things like health care were provided and accessed without a hitch. But her reporting showed her otherwise. 

“I had always had this idea that when refugees come, they come under very different circumstances than when immigrants come,” she said. “I didn’t realize how constricted the things they receive are and how difficult it is to navigate.”

Hear more in the interview embedded below.