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Mental Health in Refugees and Asylum Seekers

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Mental Health and Illness in Migration

Part of the book series: Mental Health and Illness Worldwide ((MHIW))

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Abstract

58 million refugees and asylum seekers are currently in the process of fleeing their homes. A high proportion of traumatised people with a serious mental disorder such as PTSD is among this population. Therefore, healthcare systems have to prepare themselves for this very heterogeneous population with different concepts of health and disease and with expectations about treatment depending on cultural background, traditional values, personal experiences and social worlds. To be able to cope with mental health needs among diverse multicultural populations health professionals need sufficient knowledge, competences and training. Furthermore, the legislation should be changed towards including more humanitarian aspects in mental health care. Additionally, data on the mental health of immigrants is scarce, so that it should be filled. Summing up, there is an urgent need for action on different levels.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Psychiatric Clinic of Charité at St. Hedwig’s Hospital, Berlin, Germany

    Meryam Schouler-Ocak

  2. Speciallæge i psykiatri, Frederiksberg, Denmark

    Marianne C. Kastrup

Authors
  1. Meryam Schouler-Ocak
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  2. Marianne C. Kastrup
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Meryam Schouler-Ocak .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ibn Rushd University Psychiatric Centre, Casablanca, Morocco

    Driss Moussaoui

  2. Institute of Psychiatry King's College London, London, UK

    Dinesh Bhugra

  3. ASL Provinciale di Foggia, Foggia, Napoli, Italy

    Antonio Ventriglio

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Schouler-Ocak, M., Kastrup, M.C. (2018). Mental Health in Refugees and Asylum Seekers. In: Moussaoui, D., Bhugra, D., Ventriglio, A. (eds) Mental Health and Illness in Migration. Mental Health and Illness Worldwide. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0750-7_8-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0750-7_8-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-0750-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-0750-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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