Refugees in Europe: national overviews from key countries with a special focus on child and adolescent mental health

Abstract

Many European countries are becoming multicultural at a previously unseen rate. The number of immigrants including refugees has considerably increased since 2008, and especially after the beginning of the war in Syria. In 2015, 88,300 unaccompanied minors sought asylum in the Member States of the European Union (EU) and most came from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Somalia and Eritrea. As a reaction to increased immigration, governments in many countries including Germany, Sweden and Norway implemented more restrictive immigration policy. A requirement for all countries, however, is the protection and welfare provision for all arriving children, regardless of their nationality, ensured by international and national legal frameworks. This paper provides an overview of the post 2015 immigration crisis in key European countries with a special focus on current demographics, refugee children, mental health studies, policies and practical support available for refugees.

Impact of the Refugee Crisis on the Greek Healthcare System: A Long Road to Ithaca

“…It is interesting that no differences were found when a psychiatric assessment was made through a parent questionnaire, while in studies in which the educator was of the same nationality as the refugee, an increase in the rate of psychopathology was documented [72]. On the other hand, Hodes et al supported the conclusion that the proportion of immigrants with a psychiatric diagnosis was higher than in both accompanied/unaccompanied refugees and groups of Greek children [73]. Specifically, 91% of the immigrant group received a psychosocial diagnosis, as opposed to 49% of the Greek group [72,73].…”

“…On the other hand, Hodes et al supported the conclusion that the proportion of immigrants with a psychiatric diagnosis was higher than in both accompanied/unaccompanied refugees and groups of Greek children [73]. Specifically, 91% of the immigrant group received a psychosocial diagnosis, as opposed to 49% of the Greek group [72,73]. Economic migrants are reported to have low socioeconomic status, poor job status, bad living conditions, and only a low rate of health insurance coverage; these factors predispose children and adults to mental disorder [73].…”

“…Specifically, 91% of the immigrant group received a psychosocial diagnosis, as opposed to 49% of the Greek group [72,73]. Economic migrants are reported to have low socioeconomic status, poor job status, bad living conditions, and only a low rate of health insurance coverage; these factors predispose children and adults to mental disorder [73]. However, as previously reported by Cortes, refugees lack the option of emigrating back to their homeland after prolonged periods of living in the host country, and hence, may be more inclined to invest in human capital [74].…”

“…On this basis, the proportion of immigrants with a psychiatric diagnosis may be higher than currently accepted estimates among refugees [74]. However, different sources may provide conflicting data on the higher rate of psychopathology in immigrants [72,73]. Conversely, refugees report problems regarding their general health status, such as their difficulty in obtaining access to public healthcare services [72].…”

“…In 2017, the Ministry of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs, and the Greek mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) implemented a number of educational policies by supplying children with necessary school equipment [73]. According to the Ministry of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs, it was estimated that only 2500 of 12,000 school-age children enrolled in schools throughout Greece since the start of 2017, both in primary and secondary education [72,73,76]. …”