WHO Urges Global Action To Improve Mental Health Care For Refugees And Migrants
In observance of World Mental Health Day on Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled a report titled "Mental Health of Refugees and Migrants: Risk and Protective Factors and Access to Care." This report, marking the fifth edition of the Global Evidence Review on Health and Migration (GEHM), sheds light on critical aspects influencing the mental health of refugees and migrants, emphasizing the need for improved access to mental health care. Here are the key takeaways from this essential release:
Community Support: The report underscores the significance of community support in mitigating mental health issues among refugees and migrants. Being part of a community with a shared background and attending school is associated with lower rates of mental disorders, emphasizing the importance of fostering a sense of belonging.
Basic Needs and Security: The precarious legal status of refugees and migrants can significantly contribute to poor mental health. Addressing basic needs such as food, housing, safety, and education or employment is crucial to supporting their mental well-being.
Stigma: Experiences of racism and discrimination have consistently been linked to adverse mental health outcomes. To improve mental health, societies must work to reduce stigma and promote inclusivity and equality.
Adversity and Trauma: Prolonged detention is associated with increased rates of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Policies and practices need to evolve to minimize such trauma-inducing situations.
Access to Services: Refugees and migrants often face barriers in accessing mental health care due to factors like language barriers, confidentiality concerns, and a lack of awareness regarding available services. Initiatives must be undertaken to make mental health care accessible, acceptable, and affordable.
Dr. Santino Severoni, Director of the WHO's Department of Health and Migration, stresses that "Good mental health and well-being is a right for all, including for refugees and migrants." This report aims to strengthen health systems' responses to their mental health needs.
The GEHM report calls for immediate action by policymakers, suggesting several crucial steps:
Promoting Participation and Reducing Discrimination: Governments should adopt refugee- and migrant-sensitive mental health policies to reduce discrimination and facilitate their integration into society.
Addressing Non-Medical Factors: Migration policies must prioritize basic needs such as food, housing, safety, and education, rather than detention facilities, to assess the health status of refugees and migrants.
Training Healthcare Workers: Health workers and relevant professionals should be trained to assess and treat mental health conditions, while also recognizing and supporting individuals with mental health issues.
Offering Choices in Service Delivery: Providing choices in the delivery of mental health services, including location, service provider, referral pathway, and treatment approach, will enhance access and acceptability.
Safeguarding Human Rights: All refugees and migrants, irrespective of their legal status, should be protected by national and international policies and criminal justice measures against discrimination and violence.
Strengthening Community Capacity: Building community capacity and improving access to mental health care through information dissemination, engagement with migrant groups, and community-based referral pathways are crucial for successful integration.
This report, developed in collaboration between the WHO's Department of Health and Migration and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, also identifies critical research gaps to be addressed in future studies. As the world marks World Mental Health Day, this comprehensive report serves as a call to action, emphasizing the urgent need for holistic policies and strategies to improve the mental health and well-being of refugees and migrants worldwide.
