The Interventions of a Mobile Mental Health Unit on the Refugee Crisis on a Greek Island

Iliana Fylla,Eleonora Fousfouka,Maria Kostoula,Pinelopi Spentzouri

doi:10.3390/psych4010004

Abstract

This present study concerns refugees and asylum seekers who have been referred to a Mobile Mental Health Unit (MMHU-Ch) in rural Greece on a Northeast Aegean Island during the refugee crisis in 2015. Our objective is the examination and recording of psychopathology characteristics’, the presentation of the therapeutic interventions provided, and the difficulties. The sample is composed of 418 requests made by refugees, asylum seekers, adults, and children. The clinical and demographic data have been gathered from the MMHU-Ch’s charts. The study is retrospective, descriptive with quantitative and categorical variables. The data has been analyzed with the utilization of SPSS. The dominant diagnosis in children involves anxiety disorders, developmental disorders, and PTSD. One noteworthy finding is the high percentage of suicide behavior regardless of psychiatric diagnosis, which should be further examined. As far as interventions are concerned, the conclusions which have arisen are the gradually stronger commitment of the referents, but also the high percentage of requests that dropped out. Further examination of the interventions and their efficiency is recommended as well as probing the features of psychopathology in the long term with a view to clarifying the patronizing and aggravating factors.

Highlights

People compelled or even forced to abandon their home country or their permanent residence and seek shelter in a foreign country experience a “culture shock”
The aim of the current study is the presentation of features and psychopathology of refugees and asylum seekers, as well as the therapeutic intervention provided by a community Mental Health Service, the Mobile Mental Health Unit of Chios (MMHU-Ch)
The refugee population is rarely accustomed to receiving mental health services since, for instance, in the Arabic world, a small amount of the annual governmental budget is spent on mental health

Summary

Introduction

People compelled or even forced to abandon their home country or their permanent residence and seek shelter in a foreign country experience a “culture shock”. Refugees experience culture and language change and may experience family disruption, social isolation, and hostility from the population of the host country [2]. They are exposed to many risks pre-flight, during their flight, and upon arrival, which makes them vulnerable to the development of physical health issues, such as pneumonia and ear infections, in addition to mental health problems, such as anxiety [3]. When refugees settle in their destination, they undergo a severe cultural alteration in means of communication, work, lifestyle, and language. The influence of an utterly different culture, along with the racism and hostility they will encounter, may lead to withdrawal, social exclusion, and mental instability [4]. It should be noted that a substantial proportion of refugees have shown remarkable resilience to such circumstances [5,6]

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