Is legal status associated with mental illness among newly arrived refugees in Sweden: an epidemiological study
Abstract Background There are about 80 million forcibly displaced people globally. Migrants are at heightened risk for mental illness compared to host country populations. While previous research highlights the need to adequately assess mental illness, few have taken the diversity among newly arrive...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04679-y |
| _version_ | 1797859878092406784 |
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| author | Sara Delilovic Ana Hagström Jad Shedrawy Anna Clara Hollander Knut Lönnroth Henna Hasson |
| author_facet | Sara Delilovic Ana Hagström Jad Shedrawy Anna Clara Hollander Knut Lönnroth Henna Hasson |
| author_sort | Sara Delilovic |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There are about 80 million forcibly displaced people globally. Migrants are at heightened risk for mental illness compared to host country populations. While previous research highlights the need to adequately assess mental illness, few have taken the diversity among newly arrived migrants into account. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of mental illness among asylum seekers, quota and other refugees in Stockholm, Sweden. Methods Using a cross-sectional design, data was collected as part of a mental health screening initiative integrated into routine health examinations in two health care clinics in Stockholm. Screening was done with the Refugee Health Screener, RHS-13, a validated instrument for assessing mental health in refugee populations. Results A total of 1163 individuals were eligible for screening, of whom 566 participated (response rate 48.6%). Among the participants, 47.9% indicated symptoms of mental illness. Compared with asylum seekers, the risk of mental illness was lower among quota and other refugees (adjusted odds ratio 0.60, 95% confidence interval 0.37-1.00). Female sex, higher age, coming from a middle-income country and low probability of being granted asylum were significant predictors of mental illness. Conclusion Refugee legal status is associated with mental illness. Asylum seekers are at greater risk of mental illness compared to quota and other refugees. Our findings call for screening for mental illness among newly arrived migrants, especially among those with pending residence permits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:36:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-493dfe8e664942f080f360acaa67f253 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:36:41Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-493dfe8e664942f080f360acaa67f2532023-03-26T11:15:37ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2023-03-0123111110.1186/s12888-023-04679-yIs legal status associated with mental illness among newly arrived refugees in Sweden: an epidemiological studySara Delilovic0Ana Hagström1Jad Shedrawy2Anna Clara Hollander3Knut Lönnroth4Henna Hasson5Procome Research Group, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, (LIME) Karolinska Institutet (KI), Karolinska InstitutetProcome Research Group, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, (LIME) Karolinska Institutet (KI), Karolinska InstitutetSocial medicine, infectious diseases and migration, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska InstitutetEpidemiology of Psychiatric Conditions, Substance use and Social Environment (EPiCSS), Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska InstitutetRegion Stockholm, Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine (CES, with Swedish acronym)Procome Research Group, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, (LIME) Karolinska Institutet (KI), Karolinska InstitutetAbstract Background There are about 80 million forcibly displaced people globally. Migrants are at heightened risk for mental illness compared to host country populations. While previous research highlights the need to adequately assess mental illness, few have taken the diversity among newly arrived migrants into account. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of mental illness among asylum seekers, quota and other refugees in Stockholm, Sweden. Methods Using a cross-sectional design, data was collected as part of a mental health screening initiative integrated into routine health examinations in two health care clinics in Stockholm. Screening was done with the Refugee Health Screener, RHS-13, a validated instrument for assessing mental health in refugee populations. Results A total of 1163 individuals were eligible for screening, of whom 566 participated (response rate 48.6%). Among the participants, 47.9% indicated symptoms of mental illness. Compared with asylum seekers, the risk of mental illness was lower among quota and other refugees (adjusted odds ratio 0.60, 95% confidence interval 0.37-1.00). Female sex, higher age, coming from a middle-income country and low probability of being granted asylum were significant predictors of mental illness. Conclusion Refugee legal status is associated with mental illness. Asylum seekers are at greater risk of mental illness compared to quota and other refugees. Our findings call for screening for mental illness among newly arrived migrants, especially among those with pending residence permits.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04679-yRefugeesAsylum seekersMental healthScreeningPrimary care |
| spellingShingle | Sara Delilovic Ana Hagström Jad Shedrawy Anna Clara Hollander Knut Lönnroth Henna Hasson Is legal status associated with mental illness among newly arrived refugees in Sweden: an epidemiological study BMC Psychiatry Refugees Asylum seekers Mental health Screening Primary care |
| title | Is legal status associated with mental illness among newly arrived refugees in Sweden: an epidemiological study |
| title_full | Is legal status associated with mental illness among newly arrived refugees in Sweden: an epidemiological study |
| title_fullStr | Is legal status associated with mental illness among newly arrived refugees in Sweden: an epidemiological study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is legal status associated with mental illness among newly arrived refugees in Sweden: an epidemiological study |
| title_short | Is legal status associated with mental illness among newly arrived refugees in Sweden: an epidemiological study |
| title_sort | is legal status associated with mental illness among newly arrived refugees in sweden an epidemiological study |
| topic | Refugees Asylum seekers Mental health Screening Primary care |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04679-y |
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