Global Mental Health and Services for Migrants in Primary Care Settings in High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review

Jia Lu, Shabana Jamani, Joseph Benjamen, Eric Agbata, Olivia Magwood and Kevin Pottie
Additional contact information
Jia Lu: Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
Shabana Jamani: Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 75 Laurier Ave. E, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Joseph Benjamen: Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 75 Laurier Ave. E, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Eric Agbata: C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, Bruyère Research Institute, 85 Primrose Ave, Ottawa, ON K1R 6M1, Canada
Olivia Magwood: C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, Bruyère Research Institute, 85 Primrose Ave, Ottawa, ON K1R 6M1, Canada
Kevin Pottie: C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, Bruyère Research Institute, 85 Primrose Ave, Ottawa, ON K1R 6M1, Canada

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-28

Abstract: Migrants are at a higher risk for common mental health problems than the general population but are less likely to seek care. To improve access, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the integration of mental health services into primary care. This scoping review aims to provide an overview of the types and characteristics of mental health services provided to migrants in primary care following resettlement in high-income countries. We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, Global Health, and other databases from 1 January 2000 to 15 April 2020. The inclusion criteria consisted of all studies published in English, reporting mental health services and practices for refugee, asylum seeker, or undocumented migrant populations, and were conducted in primary care following resettlement in high-income countries. The search identified 1627 citations and we included 19 studies. The majority of the included studies were conducted in North America. Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessed technology-assisted mental health screening, and one assessed integrating intensive psychotherapy and case management in primary care. There was a paucity of studies considering gender, children, seniors, and in European settings. More equity-focused research is required to improve primary mental health care in the context of global mental health.

Keywords: integrated care; global mental health; primary care; migrants; refugees; scoping review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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