Problems faced by Syrian refugees and asylum seekers in Switzerland

Author(s) : Nikolai Kiselev, Monique Pfaltz, Matthis Schick, Martha Bird, Hansen Pernille, Marit Sijbrandij, Anne M. de Graaff, Ulrich Schnyder, Naser Morina

Source : https://doi.org/10.4414/smw.2020.20381

Abstract:

“Refugees and asylum seekers are susceptible to developing common mental disorders due to their exposure to stressful experiences before, during and after their flight. The Syrian Civil War, which started in 2011, has led to a massive number of Syrians seeking refuge and asylum in European countries, including Switzerland. Currently, Syrians are the second-largest refugee and asylum-seeking population in Switzerland. However, very little is known about the problems faced by this new population in Switzerland and their needs relating to mental health services. Identifying the problems faced by this community is crucial to providing adapted and tailored mental health services to Syrian refugees in Switzerland.

Keywords : mental healthcare services, refugee mental health, Syrian refugees and asylum seekers, psychological and practical problems, Switzerland, qualitative study