Mental illness in asylum seekers and refugees

Mann, Caroline M
Fazil, Qulsoom BSc PhD

Final Year Medical Student, University of Birmingham, Medical School, Birmingham, UK
Academic Lecturer, University of Birmingham, Division of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital, Birmingham, UK

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

None.

ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE

Qulsoom Fazil, Academic Lecturer, University of Birmingham, Medical School, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. Tel: +44 (0)121 678 2439; fax: +44 (0)121 678 2351; email: [email protected]

Accepted July 2006

Primary Care Mental Health 4(1):p 57-66, 2006.

Symptoms of psychological illness are much more common in asylum seekers and refugees as compared to the general population and other migrants. They do not, however, necessarily signify mental illness. Asylum seekers and refugees have been the subject of much negative political and media attention in recent months. This paper reviews current literature regarding the mental health of asylum seekers and refugees. Factors increasing vulnerability of these groups to mental illness, and compounding social factors are discussed.