AUTHOR=Gonçalves Leonel C. , Heller Patrick , Bachmann Anne-Claire B. , Barbolini Jonathan , Fuhrer Clara , Gétaz Laurent , Luke Eric , Wolff Hans , Baggio Stéphanie 

TITLE=Mental Health Consultations in Immigration Detention: What Can We Learn From Clinical Records?

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=69

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2024.1605896

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2024.1605896

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> Knowledge on mental health consultations in immigration detention and characteristics of people receiving consultations is scarce. Based on a sample of 230 adult men in immigration detention in Switzerland, we aimed to: (1) Quantify the proportion of persons receiving mental health consultations during detention; and (2) Identify socio-demographic and clinical characteristics associated with mental health consultations.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Retrospective observational study with a cross-sectional design. Prevalence estimates, logistic regressions, and contingency tables were used to analyse the data.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> A total of 30% of the sample received mental health consultations during detention. Time spent in immigration detention, mental health problems during detention, use of psychotropic medication, and self-harm were associated with mental health consultations. Although mental health consultations are provided to people with more severe mental health problems, 41% of persons with assessed mental health needs during the initial screening and 26% of those who self-harmed during detention did not receive mental health consultations.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Mental health resources and screening procedures could be improved to ensure that mental health consultations are matched to clinical need in immigration detention settings.</p>