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A Walk-In Clinic for Newly Arrived Mentally Burdened Refugees: The Patient Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Catharina Zehetmair

    (Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department for General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Valentina Zeyher

    (Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department for General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Anna Cranz

    (Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department for General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Beate Ditzen

    (Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Institute of Medical Psychology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Sabine C. Herpertz

    (Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of General Psychiatry, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Rupert Maria Kohl

    (Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Institute of Medical Psychology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Christoph Nikendei

    (Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department for General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany)

Abstract

Providing refugees with psychosocial support is particularly important considering the high level of mental health problems prevalent in this population. A psychosocial walk-in clinic operating within a state reception and registration center in Germany has been supporting mentally burdened refugees since 2016. This study focused on patients’ perspectives on their mental health burden, the psychosocial walk-in clinic, and future help seeking. We conducted interviews with n = 22 refugees attending the walk-in clinic from March to May 2019. Qualitative analysis focused on the following four topics: (1) mental burden from the patients’ perspective, (2) access to the psychosocial walk-in clinic, (3) perception of counseling sessions, and (4) perception of follow-up treatment. The results show that the majority of interviewees were burdened by psychological and somatic complaints, mostly attributed to past experiences and post-migratory stress. Therapeutic counseling and psychiatric medication were found to be particularly helpful. Most of the participants felt motivated to seek further psychosocial support. Key barriers to seeking psychosocial help included shame, fear of stigma, and lack of information. Overall, the psychosocial walk-in clinic is a highly valued support service for newly arrived refugees with mental health issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Catharina Zehetmair & Valentina Zeyher & Anna Cranz & Beate Ditzen & Sabine C. Herpertz & Rupert Maria Kohl & Christoph Nikendei, 2021. "A Walk-In Clinic for Newly Arrived Mentally Burdened Refugees: The Patient Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2275-:d:505704
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ana-Marija Tomasi & Shameran Slewa-Younan & Renu Narchal & Pilar Rioseco, 2022. "Professional Mental Health Help-Seeking Amongst Afghan and Iraqi Refugees in Australia: Understanding Predictors Five Years Post Resettlement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Catharina Zehetmair & David Kindermann & Inga Tegeler & Cassandra Derreza-Greeven & Anna Cranz & Hans-Christoph Friederich & Christoph Nikendei, 2021. "A Qualitative Evaluation of a Mother and Child Center Providing Psychosocial Support to Newly Arrived Female Refugees in a Registration and Reception Center in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-21, April.

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