European Journal of Public Health
Volume 21, Issue 2, 2011, Pages 184-189

Mental health of failed asylum seekers as compared with pending and temporarily accepted asylum seekers (Article) (Open Access)

Mueller J.* , Schmidt M. , Staeheli A. , Maier T.
  • a Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Zurich, Culmannstr. 8, CH - 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
  • b Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Zurich, Culmannstr. 8, CH - 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
  • c Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Zurich, Culmannstr. 8, CH - 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
  • d Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Zurich, Culmannstr. 8, CH - 8091 Zurich, Switzerland

Abstract

Background: Asylum seekers (AS) and refugees often suffer from severe psychopathology in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As PTSD impacts memory functions, and as asylum applications rely on personal accounts, AS with PTSD are at more risk of being rejected than refugees. Methods: We studied the mental health of failed asylum seekers (FAS, N=40) and a matched sample of AS (N=40). Participants were administered structured interviews on sociodemographics, flight, exile and standardized questionnaires on PTSD, anxiety, depression and pain. Results: Both samples were severely affected; >80 exhibited at least one clinically significant condition. Conclusion: Given the great vulnerability of these individuals, long and unsettling asylum processes as practised in Western host countries seem problematic, as does the withdrawal of health and social welfare benefits. Finally, high rates of psychopathology amongst FAS indicate that refugee and humanitarian decision-making procedures may be failing to identify those most in need of protection. © The Author 2010.

Author Keywords

Mental health rejection of asylum Asylum seekers Credibility

Index Keywords

anxiety depression refugee psychological aspect mental health human Refugees middle aged Stress, Psychological mental stress comparative study Depressive Disorder Young Adult Humans Adolescent male female questionnaire Article Questionnaires adult posttraumatic stress disorder Mental Status Schedule Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Switzerland
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79953192512&doi=10.1093%2feurpub%2fckq016&partnerID=40&md5=e23657911ec2a6030760fcbbe3dd953f
DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckq016
ISSN: 11011262
Cited by: 16
Original Language: English