Mental Health of Migrants and Foreigners: A Better Understanding for Better Care.

Introduction - Mental health conditions represent one of the major health challenges among migrants and foreign nationals in France, yet they are often overlooked in studies of the general population. Materials and Methods - Data collected through the healthcare services of Comede (Medical Committee for Exiles) have made it possible to describe psychotrauma in a population of exiles marked by a history of violence, precarious administrative status, and communication difficulties for non-French speakers. Results - Between 2004 and 2010, among the 17,836 people who consulted a physician at Comede health centers, more than 60% had experienced violence in their country of origin, and nearly a quarter had been tortured. The prevalence rate of psychological trauma at the first consultation was 112. It was highest among people aged 29 to 49 and among women, and varied by nationality. These results indicate a high prevalence of psychotraumatic syndromes in this population, higher than the prevalence of mental disorders reported in studies of the general population. Conclusion—The frequency and characteristics of mental disorders among vulnerable migrants and foreign nationals call for the development of research combining epidemiological surveys and qualitative studies, as well as for the evolution of the diagnostic categories used. (R.A.)

Author(s): Veïsse A, Wolmark L, Revault P

Publishing year: 2012

Pages: 36-40

Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2012, n° 2-3-4, p. 36-40

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