Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2008) 14: 452-459. doi: 10.1192/apt.bp.107.005041
© 2008 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Mental healthcare of asylum-seekers and refugees

Helen McColl, Kwame McKenzie and Kamaldeep Bhui

Helen McColl is Mental Health Advisor for the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), based in Copenhagen, Denmark (Email: hmc{at}irct.org). Kwame McKenzie is a senior scientist within the Social Equity and Health Research section at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, Canada, and a Professor at the Institute of Philosophy Diversity and Mental Health, University of Lancashire, UK. Kamaldeep Bhui is a Professor of Cultural Psychiatry and Epidemiology at Barts and The London, London, UK.

Many health professionals feel ill-equipped to deal with the complex needs of asylum-seekers and refugees. This article offers an overview of the literature, and reviews the demography, epidemiology and causes of mental illness in refugee and asylum-seeker groups. It discusses the types of service configurations and service response that would be appropriate. It highlights the findings of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ consensus team and their position statement on the treatment of refugees and asylum-seekers. It finishes with some thoughts about what clinicians can do to improve their treatment. Clearly, there is a need for more training, education and service development.




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