This research project proposes to implement a cross-sectional study assessing the nature and severity of mental health issues of asylum seekers/refugees seeking treatment in the Bern ED. The focus of this research is to get an initial “snap-shot” of the mental health issues prevalent in refugees in the ED. Individuals are asked on a single occasion to complete an on-line battery of self-report and socio-demographic assessments while they are waiting to see their physician. The self-report measures are available on secure web-based devices and are available in multiple languages. The findings from these data provide critical data on the rates of refugee admissions to the ED, the geographic representation of patients from the refugee community, as well as the nature and severity of mental health issues, socio-demographic variables associated with mental health outcomes, and the reported frequency in which these individuals have sought treatment at the ED. This project is considered as a feasibility study before extension of study sites to participating hospitals of the Swiss Hospitals for Equity Network. After enrolment of multiple sites, the possibility of a community-based intervention is being investigated in a third phase.
