Mental Health Consultations in Immigration Detention: What Can We Learn From Clinical Records?

Overview

Journal Int J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2024 Feb 9

PMID 38332758

Authors

Leonel C Goncalves

Patrick Heller

Anne-Claire B Bachmann

Jonathan Barbolini

Clara Fuhrer

Laurent Getaz

Eric Luke

Hans Wolff

Stephanie Baggio

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Knowledge on mental health consultations in immigration detention and characteristics of people receiving consultations is scarce. Based on a sample of 230 adult men in immigration detention in Switzerland, we aimed to: (1) Quantify the proportion of persons receiving mental health consultations during detention; and (2) Identify socio-demographic and clinical characteristics associated with mental health consultations. Retrospective observational study with a cross-sectional design. Prevalence estimates, logistic regressions, and contingency tables were used to analyse the data. A total of 30% of the sample received mental health consultations during detention. Time spent in immigration detention, mental health problems during detention, use of psychotropic medication, and self-harm were associated with mental health consultations. Although mental health consultations are provided to people with more severe mental health problems, 41% of persons with assessed mental health needs during the initial screening and 26% of those who self-harmed during detention did not receive mental health consultations. Mental health resources and screening procedures could be improved to ensure that mental health consultations are matched to clinical need in immigration detention settings.

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