Mental Health Needs of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children in Greece
Author Information
Author(s): Giannopoulou Ioanna, Papanastasatos Gerasimos, Vathakou Eugenia, Bellali Thalia, Tselepi Konstantia, Papadopoulos Paraskevas, Kazakou Myrsini, Papadatou Danai, Wang Liang-Jen
Primary Institution: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Hypothesis
What are the psychosocial and mental health needs of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Greece as perceived by service providers?
Conclusion
The study highlights significant mental health needs among unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Greece and the challenges faced by service providers in addressing these needs.
Supporting Evidence
- Almost 59% of unaccompanied minors showed signs of behavioral or emotional disturbance.
- Over half of the minors referred for psychiatric assessment needed inpatient care.
- 42.1% of unaccompanied minors required emergency psychiatric evaluation.
Takeaway
Unaccompanied children seeking asylum in Greece have many mental health problems, and the people helping them face a lot of challenges.
Methodology
An exploratory, predominantly quantitative design was used, involving an online survey with service providers.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on service providers' perceptions rather than direct input from the children.
Limitations
The study did not gather data directly from the unaccompanied minors themselves, limiting the understanding of their needs.
Participant Demographics
The sample included facility coordinators, field psychologists, and CAMHS directors, primarily working with unaccompanied minors.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.023
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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