Undocumented migrants in the Netherlands: adverse life events, living conditions and mental health
Background: Undocumented migrants have worse health and living conditions and poor access to health care.Aims and objectives: To examine the prevalence and determinants of mental health problems in undocumented migrants.Design: Observational study, integrating cross-sectional questionnaire data with retrospective electronic patient record data.Methods: Undocumented migrants attending medical and psychological consultation hours of a Netherlands-based non-governmental organization, completed the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ). We examined scores of the instrument's 24 items version (SRQ-24) and its 20 items version (SRQ-20). Correlations with determinants were estimated using parametric tests.Results: On the SRQ-20, 85% of the sample (N=101) scored ≥8, the clinical cut-off value; mean=12.4 ± 4.6, range 0-20. Adverse life events like physical and sexual assault were reported in 37% of the medical records (N=99) and had a medium to large effect (Cohen's d=0.76) on SRQ-24 scores.Discussion: Mental health problems are common in undocumented migrants. Adverse life-events are critical determinants.