TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - Sick and Tired-Sociodemographic and Psychosocial Characteristics of Asylum Seekers Awaiting an Appointment for Psychotherapy
JO  - International journal of environmental research and public health
A1  - Trohl, Ulrich
A1  - Wagner, Karoline
A1  - Kalfa, Vivian
A1  - Negash, Sarah
A1  - Wienke, Andreas
A1  - Führer, Amand
SP  - e11850
EP  - e11850
VL  - 18
IS  - 22
N2  - BACKGROUND: An EU directive holds the EU member states responsible for implementing the provision of health care for asylum seekers. However, current literature indicates insufficient care for asylum seekers in the German health system. This article aims to characterize the situation of the client population on the waiting list of a psychosocial center (PSZ).  METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study based on client files in Halle (Saale), Germany. We included 437 adults who were on the PSZ waiting list between 2016 and 2019. Questionnaires that collected information on the clientele at two different times were analyzed.  RESULTS: The average waiting time for psychotherapy was 50 weeks. In total, 85.6% of the 188 respondents reported sleep disorders (n = 161), 65.4% of clients reported pain (n = 123) and 54.8% suicide attempts/suicidal thoughts (n = 54). In the 16-week waiting period in which the clients waited for an initial appointment with a psychologist, the residence status deteriorated in 21.3% (n = 40).  CONCLUSION: Improving asylum seekers' access to the German health system is urgently needed in order to prevent unnecessary suffering in the future and to comply with EU law.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1661-7827
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211850
ID  - ref1
ER  -