Journal of Psychopathology
Volume 23, Issue 2, 2017, Pages 79-86

The provision of mental health services to immigrants and refugees in Italy: The barriers and facilitating factors experienced by mental health workers (Article)

Griffiths G.* , Tarricone I. , Berardi D. , Donegani I. , Fioritti A. , Maisto R. , Braca M. , Menchetti M. , Tonti L. , Nolet M. , Piazza A. , Spigonardo V.
  • a University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol Royal Infrmary, Upper Maudlin St, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom
  • b Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, Psychiatry Unit, Bologna University, Italy, Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Local Health Trust, Bologna, Italy
  • c Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, Psychiatry Unit, Bologna University, Italy, Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Local Health Trust, Bologna, Italy
  • d Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Local Health Trust, Bologna, Italy
  • e Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Local Health Trust, Bologna, Italy
  • f Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, Psychiatry Unit, Bologna University, Italy
  • g Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, Psychiatry Unit, Bologna University, Italy, Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Local Health Trust, Bologna, Italy
  • h Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, Psychiatry Unit, Bologna University, Italy, Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Local Health Trust, Bologna, Italy
  • i Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Local Health Trust, Bologna, Italy
  • j Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Local Health Trust, Bologna, Italy
  • k Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Local Health Trust, Bologna, Italy
  • l Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, Local Health Trust, Bologna, Italy

Abstract

Objective: To explore the barriers and facilitating factors to the provision of mental health services to immigrants and refugees by exploring the experiences of mental health workers (MHWs.) Method: A qualitative study was performed in May 2013 in a city in the Emilia Romagna region. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling and 14 semi-structured interviews were performed with MHWs. Framework Analysis was used to interpret the data. Results: Five facilitating factors were identified: language skill of patients, involvement of patients' family, specialist cultural psychiatric services, voluntary services and organisation of the mental health system. Five barriers were identified: patients' perceptions, lack of family support, cultural knowledge of MHWs, language skill of MHWs and funding of the mental health system. Conclusions: The barriers and facilitating factors identified reflect findings from research in both European and non-European countries. Nevertheless, the results of this study highlight the fact that a national mental health policy for immigrants and refugees needs to be implemented alongside cultural competence training programmes and specialist cultural psychiatric services.

Author Keywords

Italy Refugees immigrants Mental health workers

Index Keywords

perception immigrant training voluntary program refugee mental health service sampling human language funding cultural competence qualitative research family study human tissue male semi structured interview female human experiment Italy skill
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85023177872&partnerID=40&md5=1fdb019ffe63681deb0e0a32db0a8747
ISSN: 15921107
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English