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Upon Rejection: Psychiatric Emergencies of Failed Asylum Seekers

Author

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  • Georgios Schoretsanitis

    (University Hospital of Psychiatry, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
    Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, and JARA-Translational Brain Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany)

  • Dinesh Bhugra

    (Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK)

  • Sarah Eisenhardt

    (University Hospital of Psychiatry, 3008 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Meret E. Ricklin

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Freiburgstrasse, 3010 Bern, Switzerland)

  • David S. Srivastava

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Freiburgstrasse, 3010 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Aristomenis Exadaktylos

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Freiburgstrasse, 3010 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Sebastian Walther

    (University Hospital of Psychiatry, 3008 Bern, Switzerland)

Abstract

Background: The status of a refugee or asylum seeker is only recognised after legal processes. The uncertainty of these procedures or the rejection itself may severely impact mental well-being. Methods: We surveyed the patterns of psychiatric services used by patients whose applications for asylum had been rejected. In a retrospective investigation of admissions to the University Emergency Department in Bern, Switzerland between 1 March 2012 and 28 February 2017, we studied patients receiving a psychiatric consultation after their applications had been rejected. The primary endpoint was based on the comparison of these individuals with controls who were asylum seekers with pending asylum applications using the Mann-Whitney U test and the chi-square test (χ 2 ) with a significance level of 0.05. Results: Thirty-eight cases were identified. There were more men than women and the mean age was 30.08 ± 9.62 years. Patients predominantly presented as walk-in patients ( n = 16, 42.1%), most frequently due to suicidal ideation ( n = 16, 42.1%). Stress-related disorders were the most common diagnosis ( n = 29, 76.3%) and patients were mainly referred to inpatient treatment ( n = 28, 73.7%). Patients with rejected applications were less likely to be living in reception centres than patients with a pending application (χ 2 = 17.98, p < 0.001). Conclusion : The profile of asylum seekers whose applications had been rejected reflects individuals with high-stress levels, potentially aggravated by the negative asylum decision.

Suggested Citation

  • Georgios Schoretsanitis & Dinesh Bhugra & Sarah Eisenhardt & Meret E. Ricklin & David S. Srivastava & Aristomenis Exadaktylos & Sebastian Walther, 2018. "Upon Rejection: Psychiatric Emergencies of Failed Asylum Seekers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-9, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:7:p:1498-:d:158214
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kenneth Carswell & Pennie Blackburn & Chris Barker, 2011. "The Relationship Between Trauma, Post-Migration Problems and the Psychological Well-Being of Refugees and Asylum Seekers," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 57(2), pages 107-119, March.
    2. Georgios Schoretsanitis & Sarah Eisenhardt & Meret E. Ricklin & David S. Srivastava & Sebastian Walther & Aristomenis Exadaktylos, 2018. "Psychiatric Emergencies of Asylum Seekers; Descriptive Analysis and Comparison with Immigrants of Warranted Residence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-10, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Osnat Keidar & David S. Srivastava & Emmanouil Pikoulis & Aristomenis K. Exadaktylos, 2019. "Health of Refugees and Migrants—Where Do We Stand and What Directions Should We Take?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-8, April.
    2. Andrea Tortelli & Florence Perquier & Maria Melchior & François Lair & Fabien Encatassamy & Chloé Masson & Hélène K’ourio & Raphaël Gourevitch & Alain Mercuel, 2020. "Mental Health and Service Use of Migrants in Contact with the Public Psychiatry System in Paris," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-11, December.

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