Psychiatry
Volume 8, Issue 9, 2009, Pages 351-354

Mental health care needs of refugees (Review)

Craig T.* , Jajua P.M. , Warfa N.
  • a London, UK. He qualified from the Univ. of the West Indies and trained in psychiatry. His research interests, marginalized people. Conflict of interest: none declared, United Kingdom, Centre for Forensic Mental Health, London, United Kingdom, Centre for Psychiatry, Barts and The London Medical School, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
  • b London, UK. He qualified from the Univ. of the West Indies and trained in psychiatry. His research interests, marginalized people. Conflict of interest: none declared, United Kingdom, Centre for Forensic Mental Health, London, United Kingdom, Centre for Psychiatry, Barts and The London Medical School, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
  • c London, UK. He qualified from the Univ. of the West Indies and trained in psychiatry. His research interests, marginalized people. Conflict of interest: none declared, United Kingdom, Centre for Forensic Mental Health, London, United Kingdom, Centre for Psychiatry, Barts and The London Medical School, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom

Abstract

The numbers of refugees and asylum seekers shows little sign of decreasing. An increased prevalence of stress-related common mental disorders in these populations is well documented. The causes of these conditions vary according to stresses experienced and the journeys individuals take in their migration to new countries and cultural settings. The mental health practitioner must be informed of the cultural idioms by which suffering is expressed in the refugee's community, the social stigma associated with particular traumatic experiences and with mental illness. Because of their experiences of victimization, refugees may be reluctant to disclose experiences of trauma and, as is typical of common mental disorder worldwide, the presentation of mental distress in the first instance is often in the guise of somatic complaints. The specific needs of this group will include dealing with traumatic experiences without pathologizing normal human responses. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

mental health needs Asylum seekers Refugees Post-traumatic stress disorder

Index Keywords

cultural anthropology generalized anxiety disorder human priority journal depression risk factor stress Review refugee prevalence mental health care mental disease interpersonal communication health care need migration posttraumatic stress disorder
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-69449095277&doi=10.1016%2fj.mppsy.2009.06.007&partnerID=40&md5=aa70b1860c5d260c6b27c5c751b6b7d2
DOI: 10.1016/j.mppsy.2009.06.007
ISSN: 14761793
Cited by: 19
Original Language: English