Revue Medicale Suisse
Volume 8, Issue 354, 2012, Pages 1786-1790

Social policy hardening and forced immigrant's health: 3 Years after the Asylum Law LAsi's introduction [Durcissement des lois sociales et santé des migrants forcés: Trois ans après la Loi sur l'asile (LAsi)] (Short Survey)

Saraga M.* , Clément P. , Moreno-Dàvila N. , Keravec E. , Bodenmann P.
  • a Unité de Psychiatrie de Liaison, PMU, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • b Faculté de Biologie et Médecine, Université de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • c Unité de Psychiatrie Ambulatoire d'Orbe, Secteur Psychiatrique Nord, 1350 Orbe, Switzerland
  • d Unité des Populations Vulnérables, PMU, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • e Unité des Populations Vulnérables, PMU, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland

Abstract

In the canton de Vaud, General Practioners (GPs) caring for asylum seekers under the «aide d'urgence» regime can ask for an adaptation of their housing conditions, by filling out a specific form and addressing it to the medical commission responsible for advising the EVAM (the housing institution for asylum seekers) on these issues. The forms addressed to the commission are indicative of a worrisome state of health in this population, especially for mental health. More than 70% report at least one psychiatric diagnosis. Most fre quent are anxiety and depressive disorders, as well as many posttraumatic stress disorders, associated with traumatic events both in the country of origin and in Switzerland. Adapting the housing conditions, based on vulnerabilities that the GP has specifically documented, may contribute to improve the health of the most vulnerable asylum seekers.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Short Survey immigrant depression anxiety disorder adaptation health care policy mental health human Refugees health status housing general practitioner Mental Disorders mental disease Humans medical service posttraumatic stress disorder public policy Switzerland
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84867129815&partnerID=40&md5=fed5301100798cc2b01c3c5084dbfbd3
ISSN: 16609379
Original Language: French