Barriers to access to mental health services for migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Franks ◽  
Nicola Gawn ◽  
Gillian Bowden
Author(s):  
Meryam Schouler-Ocak

Millions of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers live somewhere other than in their regions of origin. More than 244 million people are estimated to be immigrants globally. Worldwide, healthcare systems have to be prepared for this very heterogeneous population, with their different biographies, stress, and resilience factors. Both concepts of health and disease and expectations about treatment depend on cultural background, traditional values, personal experiences, and social worlds, all of which are in a constant state of flux. Barriers to access mental health care must be overcome. To be able to cope with mental health needs among diverse multicultural populations health professionals and service providers need sufficient knowledge and competencies. In this chapter, barriers to access mental health services and the needs of health professionals and mental health services will be identified and discussed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousef Khader ◽  
Ahmad Bawaneh ◽  
Zaid Al-Hamdan

BACKGROUND The Syrian conflict started in 2011 and resulted ever since in a large displacement of Syrians. Conflict-related violence coupled with displacement related stressors such as poverty, poor access to health services, loss of family support and discrimination had a significant impact on the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of Syrian refugee OBJECTIVE This study aimed to identify the perceived symptoms of severe distress and impaired functioning, identify coping mechanisms and identify the barriers to access mental health services among Syrian refugees and Jordanian adults. METHODS This cross-sectional study study took place in 14 randomly selected sites in Jordan where Syrian refugees are concentered and from Za’tari refugee camp. A toolkit for humanitarian settings was used for data collection. RESULTS Of the 1424 participants, 43.4% had distress; 38.9% among host population, 57.0% among refugees in urban communities, and 23.0% among refugees in camp (p <0.005). Overall, finding comfort in faith and spiritual beliefs was the most common coping mechanism reported by those who perceived to be experiencing distress. CONCLUSIONS A significant proportion of Syrian refugees had distress symptoms. It is recommended to incorporate mental health services into broad-based community settings, such as schools, primary prevention or case management programs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Carpenter-Song

Abstract There is growing interest in digital mental health as well as accumulating evidence of the potential for technology-based tools to augment traditional mental health services and to potentially overcome barriers to access and use of mental health services. Our research group has examined how people with mental illnesses think about and make use of technology in their everyday lives as a means to provide insight into the emerging paradigm of digital mental health. This research has been guided by anthropological approaches that emphasise lived experience and underscore the complexity of psychiatric recovery. In this commentary I describe how an anthropological approach has motivated us to ask how digital technology can be leveraged to promote meaningful recovery for people with mental illnesses and to develop a new approach to the integration of technology-based tools for people with mental illnesses.


2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shane Burke ◽  
Robert Kerr ◽  
Patrick McKeon

AbstractObjectives: The rate of suicide among young men is rising. However, young men are reluctant to use mental health services. In this study we explored young men's attitudes towards mental illness and mental health services, as well as their willingness to use these services.Methods: Four focus groups were conducted in two Dublin schools. A total of 18 students participated in the study.Results: Students held negative views towards mental health services, particularly in respect to psychiatric hospitals and medication. Students were not well informed about whom to contact if they had depression and were very conscious about the stigma of going to see a ‘professional’. Many students did not recognise depression as being a mental illness and could not differentiate between depression and feeling sad.Conclusions: This study shows that a lack of knowledge and understanding about mental illness, combined with prejudice against mental health professionals and fear of stigma, are important barriers to access of mental health services for young men.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 32-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Taylor-East ◽  
Alexia Rossi ◽  
Julian Caruana ◽  
Anton Grech

Approximately 17 000 individuals have claimed asylum in Malta over the past 10 years. Maltese law stipulates mandatory detention. Here, we review Malta's asylum procedures and detention policy, and explore the impact of detention on mental health. We review the current mental health services and make recommendations to help fill the gaps.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 600-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adalberto Campo-Arias ◽  
Guillermo A Ceballos-Ospino ◽  
Edwin Herazo

Background: Access barriers are all situations or conditions that limit seeking, receiving or enjoying benefits offered by the health system. This set of situations translates into underutilization of the services offered. In Colombia, there is little information about barriers to accessing medical care in general, and even less in the specific field of mental health. Aim: To determine the barriers to accessing psychiatric care in outpatients in Santa Marta, Colombia. Methods: The authors designed a cross-sectional study with a non-probability sample of adult patients who consulted between August and December 2018. The barriers to access were measured with a 20-item version of the Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation (BACE) scale. Results: A total of 247 patients participated; they were between 18 and 82 years (mean ( M) = 47.5, standard deviation ( SD) = 13.9). A total of 69 (27.9%) patients classified as having major attitudinal barriers; 62 (25.1%) patients, major barriers related to stigma-discrimination; and 41 (16.6%) patients, major instrumental barriers. Concerning the associated variables, age less than 45 years was related to major attitudinal barriers (odds ratio (OR) = 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-5.5), major barriers related to stigma-discrimination (OR = 3.8, 95% CI 2.0-7.2) and major instrumental barriers (OR = 2.7, 95% CI 1.3-5.3). Men reported major instrumental barriers more frequently than women (OR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.3-5.8). Conclusion: The major attitudinal, related to stigma-discrimination and instrumental barriers to access frequently delay a consultation with mental health services. Actions are necessary to reduce barriers to accessing mental health care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-95
Author(s):  
Mariam Vahdaninia ◽  
Bibha Simkhada ◽  
Edwin van Teijlingen ◽  
Hannah Blunt ◽  
Alan Mercel-Sanca

Purpose Mental health disparities exist among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnics (BAME) populations. This paper aims to provide an overview of mental health services designed for the BAME population in the UK, both established BAME communities and refugee/asylum-seekers. Design/methodology/approach A range of electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed studies conducted within the past decade in the UK. Using the Arksey and O’Malley methodology, data were extracted, analysed and summarised. Findings A total of 13 papers were identified, mostly non-randomised community-based. Studies were very heterogeneous in terms of their sample and service provided. After the initial appraisal, the authors presented a narrative synthesis. Overall, all studies reported positive mental health outcomes and beneficial effects. Research limitations/implications Because of the time limitations and quality of the papers, the authors only included peer-reviewed journal papers. Practical implications Mental health services provided for BAME people, both established and refugee/asylum-seekers are feasible and improve engagement with the services and mental health outcomes. Initiatives are required to facilitate the integration of these targeted services within mental health and community services for BAME in the UK. Originality/value This scoping review is a snapshot of the mental health services designed for BAME people in the UK, either established or refugee/asylum-seekers in the past 10 years and adds to the evidence-based knowledge from these studies.


1997 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 751-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Gray ◽  
Emad Salib

We reviewed, prospectively, all patients who presented themselves at the reception of a large psychiatric hospital, which had no casualty department, to assess the extent and value of a long standing ‘unofficial emergency service’ that has been provided for decades. We found no evidence that the service was abused or that it led to unwarranted admissions. The service could provide a useful point of entry to mental health services for certain patients. The ‘ad hoc’ emergency service described here is hoping to become a recognised ‘Emergency Clinic’ in the reprovided service, after the closure of this 100 year old psychiatric institution in the very near future.


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