Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Forced Migration and Mental Health Care

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
NeuroPsychopharmacotherapy

  • 78 Accesses

Abstract

A rise in forced migration worldwide puts the needs of mental health issues of refugees into focus. Refugees are being affected by stressors before, during, and after migration. A higher prevalence of PTSD is found in refugees as well as a higher prevalence of mood disorders and anxiety disorders in long-term resettled refugees. Apart from the pre-migration traumas experienced by refugees, post-migration conditions have a crucial impact on the well-being of refugees. In general, barriers and challenges in their treatment are manifold, with complex implications for their mental health care.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 949.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,399.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbott A. The troubled minds of migrants. Nature. 2016;538:158–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Allen J, Balfour R, Bell R, Marmot M. Social determinants of mental health. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2014;26(4):392–407.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bogic M, Ajdukovic D, Bremner S, et al. Factors associated with mental disorders in long-settled war refuges: refugees from the former Yugoslavia in Germany, Italy and the UK. Br J Psychiatry. 2012;200:216–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bogic M, Njoku A, Priebe S. Long-term mental health of war-refugees: a systematic literature review. BMC Int Healt Human Rights. 2015;15:29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Close C, Kouvonen A, Bosqui T, Patel K, O’Reilly D, Donnelly M. The mental health and wellbeing of first generation migrants: a systematic-narrative review of reviews. Globalization and Health. 2016;12(1):47.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Vito E, de Waure C, Specchia ML, Ricciardi W. Public health aspects of migrant health: a review of the evidence on health status for undocumented migrants in the European region. Copenhagen: WHO regional office for Europe; 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ding H, Hargraves L. Stress-associated poor health among adult immigrants with a language barrier in the United States. J Immigr Minor Health. 2009;11(6):446–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fazel M, Wheeler M, Danesh J. Prevalence of serious mental disorder in 7000 refugees settled in western countries: a systematic review. Lancet. 2005;366:1605.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giacco D, Laxham N, Priebe S. Prevalence of and risk factors for mental disorders in refugees. Semin Cell Dev Bio. 2018;77:144–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glaesmer H, Wittig U, Brähler E, Martin A, Mewes R, Rief W. Sind Migranten häufiger von psychischen Störungen betroffen. Psychiatr Prax. 2009;36(1):16–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haasen C, Sardashti H. Relationship between depression and psychosocial stress among Iranian emigrants. Psychiatr Prax. 2000;27(2):74–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horyniak D, Melo JS, Farrell RM, Ojeda VD, Strathdee SA. Epidemiology of substance use among forced migrants: a global systematic review. PLoS One. 2016;11(7):e0159134.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hovey JD. Acculturative stress, depression and suicidal ideation among central American immigrants. Suicide Life Threat Beahav. 2000;30(2):125–39.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hynie M. The social determinants of refugee mental health in the post-migration context: a critical review. Can J Psychiatry. 2017:1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Organisation for Migration. International migration law: glossary on migration. Geneva: International Organization for migration; 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kizilhan J, Bermejo I, Bengel J, Jerusalem M. Migration, Kultur, Gesundheit. In: Bengel I, Jerusalem M, editors. Handbuch der Gesundheitspsychologie und Medizinischen Psychologie. Göttingen: Hogrefe; 2009. p. 509–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kluge U. Sprach- und Kulturmittler im interkulturellen psychotherapeutischen Setting. In: Machleidt W, Heinz A, editors. Praxis der interkulturellen Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie. Migration und psychsiche Gesundheit. München: Urban & Fischer; 2011. p. 145–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krahn H, Derwing T, Mulder M, Wilkinson L. Educated and underemployed: a refugee integration into the Canadian labour market. J Int Migr Integr. 2000;1(1):59–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laban CJ, Komproe IH, Gernaat HBPE, Jong JTVM. The impact of a long asylum procedure on quality of life, disability and physical health in Iraqi asylum seekers in the Netherland. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2008;43:507–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert JE, Alhassoon OM. Trauma-focused therapy for refugees: meta-analytic findings. J Counsel Psychol. 2015;62(1):28–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li SSY, Liddell BJ, Nickerson A. The relationship between post-migration stress and psychological disorders in refugees and asylum seekers. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016;18(82):1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindert J, von Ehrenstein O, Priebe S, Mielck A, Brähler E. Depression and anxiety in labor migrants and refugees- a systematic review an meta analysis. Soc Sci Med. 2009;69(2):246–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maercker A. Symptomatik, Klassifikation und Epidemiologie. In: Posttraumatische Belastungsstörungen, vol. 3. Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer; 2009. p. 13–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Momartin S, Steel Z, Coello M, Aroche J, Silove DM, Brooks R. A comparison of the mental health of refugees with temporary versus permanent protection visa. MJA. 2006;185(7):357–61.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Norredam M, Mygind A, Krasnik A. Access to healthcare for asylum seekers in the European Union – a comparative study of country policies. Eur J Pub Health. 2006;3:286–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavli A, Maltezou H. Health problems of newly arrived migrants and refugees in Europe. Journal of Travel Medicine. 2017;24(4).

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter M, Haslam N. Predisplacement and postdisplacement factors associated with mental health of refugees and internally displaced persons. JAMA. 2005;294:602–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Priebe S, Matanov A, Schor R, Straßmayr C, Barros H, Barry MM, Diaz-Olalla JM, Gabor E, Greacen T, Holcnerová P, Kluge U, Lorant V, Moskalewicz J, Schene AH, Macassa G, Gaddini A. Good practice in mental health care for socially marginalised groups across Europe: a qualitative study of expert views in 14 countries. BMC Public Health. 2012;12:248.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Priebe S, Matanov A, Barros H, Canavan R, Gabor E, Greacen T, Holcnerova P, Kluge U, Nicaise P, Moskalewicz J, Diaz-Olalla JM, Straßmayr C, Schene AH, Soares JJF, Tulloch S, Gaddini A. Mental health care provision for marginalized groups across Europe: finding from the PROMO study. Eur J Pub Health. 2013;23:97–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Priebe S, Giacco D, El-Nagib R. Public Health Aspects of Migrant Health: a review of the evidence on health status for labour migrants in the European region, WHO Eur., 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Priebe S, Giacco D, El-Nagib R. Public health aspects of mental health among migrants and refugees: a review of the evidence on mental health Care for Refugees, asylum seekers and irregular migrants in the WHO European region. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salas-Wright CP, Vaughn MG. A refugee paradox for substance use disorders? Drug Alcohol Depend. 2014;142:345–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schaffrath J, Schmitz-Buhl M, Gün AK, Gouzoulis-Mayfrank E. Psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care of refugees by reference of a large psychiatric care hospital in Western Germany. Psychother Psych Med. 2017;67:126–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silove D, Ventevogel P, Rees S. The contemporary refugee crisis: an overview of mental health challenges. World Psychiatry. 2017;16:130–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sleptsova M, Hofer G, Marcel E, Grossman P, Morina N, Schick M, Daly ML, Weber I, Kocagöncü O, Langewitz WA. Wie verstehen Dolmetscher ihre Rolle in medizinischen Konsultationen und wie verhalten sie sich konkret in der Praxis. Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol. 2015;65:363–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steel Z, Chey T, Silove D, Marnane C, Bryant RA, van Ommeren M. Association of torture and other potentially traumatic events with mental health outcomes among populations exposed to mass conflict and displacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2009;302(5):537–49.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson MS, Chaze F, George U, Guruge S. Improving immigrant populations’ access to mental health services in Canada: a review of barrier and recommendations. J Immigr Minor Health. 2015;17(6):1895–905.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Convention relating to the status of refugees. United Nations Treaty Series. Geneva: United Nations; 1951. https://doi.org/10.1093/iclqaj/6.3.533.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Global trends forced displacement in 2019. Copenhagen: UNHCR; 2020.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiechers M, Ãœbleis A, Padberg F. Empowerment für Menschen mit affektiven Erkrankungen und Migrationserfahrungen. Stuttgart: Schattauer; 2019.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiking E, Johansson SE, Sundquist J. Ethnicity, acculturation, and self reported health. A population based study among immigrants from Poland, Turkey, and Iran in Sweden. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2004;58(7):574–82.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany

    Max Burger & Oliver Pogarell

Authors
  1. Max Burger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Oliver Pogarell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Oliver Pogarell .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany

    Peter Riederer

  2. Institute of Psychological Medicine (IPM), Soyen, Germany

    Gerd Laux

  3. Centre for Research Promotion and Support, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan

    Toshiharu Nagatsu

  4. Center Translational Res Neurol Diseases, Dalian Med Uni Shanghai Inst Health Sc Center Translational Res Neurol Diseases, Dalian, China

    Weidong Le

  5. Würzburg, Germany

    Christian Riederer

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

    István Bitter

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Burger, M., Pogarell, O. (2022). Forced Migration and Mental Health Care. In: Riederer, P., Laux, G., Nagatsu, T., Le, W., Riederer, C. (eds) NeuroPsychopharmacotherapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62059-2_271

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62059-2_271

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-62058-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-62059-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation