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[The mental health of asylum-seeking children in Denmark]

Signe Smith Nielsen1, Marie Nørredam, Karen Louise Christensen

  • 1Københavns Universitet, Institut for Folkesundhedsvidenskab, Afdeling for Sundhedstjenesteforskning. s.smith.nielsen@pubhealth.ku.dk

Ugeskrift for Laeger
|October 31, 2007
PubMed

Insights

A study found 35% of asylum-seeking children in Denmark experience psychiatric disorders. These children also reported physical and psychological symptoms, poor quality of life, and weak social networks, highlighting urgent mental health needs.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Public Health
  • Migration Studies

Background:

  • Asylum-seeking children face prolonged stays in centers, increasing the need for psychosocial support.
  • Mental health concerns are rising among this vulnerable population.
  • This study addresses the mental well-being of asylum-seeking children in Denmark.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To survey the mental health status of asylum-seeking children residing in Danish asylum centers.
  • To identify prevalent mental health issues and associated factors in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 246 asylum-seeking children aged 4-16 years in Denmark.
  • Utilized the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) questionnaire.
  • Data collected from teachers between October and December 2006, achieving a 95% response rate.

Main Results:

  • 35% of asylum-seeking children exhibited signs of psychiatric disorders based on SDQ results.
  • Children reported numerous physical and psychological symptoms.
  • Poor self-perceived quality of life and fragile social networks were also identified.

Conclusions:

  • Emotional and behavioral problems are highly prevalent in asylum-seeking children compared to the general population.
  • The findings underscore the need to investigate the causes of these mental health issues.
  • Urgent provision of psychological and psychiatric treatment is recommended, alongside clarification of long-term consequences.
Abstract

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