Following the unprecedented increase in the flow of migration towards Europe and in light of the recent proposal to reform the Common European Asylum System, Mental Health Europe (MHE)1 is calling on the EU and Member States to ensure access to quality mental health services and support for migrants and refugees. All migrants, irrespective of their status and nationality, are entitled to their fundamental rights including the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Migrants and refugees face a variety of challenges which can negatively impact their mental health. Unfortunately, MHE and our members on the ground 2are concerned that despite this heightened risk of developing mental health problems, migrants and refugees may not have access to quality mental health support. Mental healthcare is too often seen as a luxury even though mental health is central to good health and wellbeing and access to quality mental healthcare is a fundamental part of the obligations owed under the right to health. This position paper outlines the reasons why the provision of appropriate mental healthcare and support to migrants and refugees is not just a human rights obligation but is imperative to social cohesion as well as beneficial for European economies. It is MHE’s view that in the long-term, the unwillingness of European States to provide mental healthcare and support will lead to greater challenges for migrants and refugees, the EU and European States. As a result, MHE has formulated the following recommendations: 

  • The European Union must ensure a coordinated European response that addresses the humanitarian and protection needs of migrants and refugees in line with the recommendation received by the EU from the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;  
  • States must fulfil their obligations under the international and European human rights and refugee frameworks which includes providing access to quality mental healthcare and support regardless of status; 
  • States must strengthen national and local capacity to ensure access to long-term health and social services, to support social inclusion for refugees and migrants and to monitor the reception centres and the quality of the services received;
  • States must invest in the development of culturally appropriate and accessible mental health support in a manner that respects the principle of non-discrimination and with specific attention to the needs of migrant and refugee women and children; 
  • States should ensure that all personnel who come into contact with migrants and refugees such as police, immigration officials, medical professionals and social workers are given basic mental health and cultural training which helps them to better identify, understand and support people experiencing mental distress; 
  • States must ensure access to information regarding health care, social support and inclusion programmes for migrants and refugees as well as professionals including by guaranteeing that such information is provided in different languages and in accessible formats. 

(text taken from executive summary)

The need for mental health and psychosocial support for migrants and refugees in Europe The need for mental health and psychosocial support for migrants and refugees in Europe
Publication type
Total pages
6
Countries this relates to
Language of materials
Topics

Childhub

You might like..

yes
0
47
This brief guidance note seeks to provide advice on protecting and supporting the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in Europe. It describes key principles and appropriate interventions to guide all…
0
49
'The primary goals of this mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) situational assessment were as follows: 1) To obtain an understanding of perceived and identified needs among refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in Greece; 2) To conduct a…
0
419
  The training ‘Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies’ organized jointly by the WHO and UNICEF offices in Albania, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, aims to equip first-line professionals with…
yes
0
125
This paper summarizes the key findings of the International Medical Corps report on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants in Greece, with a focus on how the IASC MHPSS Intervention Pyramid works in…
0
37
International Medical Corps published results of a recetly conducted rapid mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs assessment, which was aimed to provide an understanding of existing services, strengths and  needs following the…
0
36
About the webinar: MHPSS.net will host a webinar on "Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). The field of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in emergencies has been slow to engage with the…
0
446
This course aims to facilitate mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) managers and experts  in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating community-based MHPSS programmes, projects and activities in contexts impacted by…
0
122
A report published by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee which encourages multi-sector efforts to overcome the mental health issues that are prompted during and after emergencies. In addition to this, the report addresses the fact that there…
0
46
The primary goal of this rapid mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs assessment is to obtain an understanding of existing services, strengths and identified needs following the refugees, asylum seekers and migrants on the move in…
0
16
The primary goal of this rapid mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs assessment is to obtain an understanding of existing services, strengths and identified needs following the Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants on the Move in…
0
79
  Introduction One of the priorities in emergencies is to protect and improve people's mental health and psychosocial well-being. A significant gap has been the absence of a multi-sectoral, inter-agency framework that enables effective…
0
38
This document aims to fill the absence of a multi-sectoral, interagency framework that enables effective coordination, identifies useful practices and flags potentially harmful practices, and clarifies how different approaches to mental health and…
yes
0
3705
This ChildHub video presents the 6 Principles on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings developed by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). Sources: IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in…
0
147
This course provides theoretical and practical tools with the aim of strengthening the skills in providing psychosocial services, focusing on areas that affect the well-being of migrants. It helps students acquire the necessary knowledge about…
0
207
This document collates key mental health and psychosocial support resources relevant to the humanitarian response in Ukrakine and neighbouring countries. Users can find a wide array of services, assessment guides and checklists in English, Hungarian…