Refugee health

Question 1

What are some of the features GPs need to be aware of when dealing with refugee patients?

Answer 1

• Refugees are generally very resilient
• Limitation of health care system in the country they come from
• Impact of poverty on health status
• Mental distress and suicide risl
• Inability to afford medications

Question 2

What is the health impact of asylum seekers in Australia?

Answer 2

Four types of asylum seekers-

• Inhabitants of Immigrant detention centres- Health care provided by contractors
• In community detention centres-Community GPs contracted to the agency
• On bridging visas have a short term credit card
• certain group who depend on charity

They have no work rights, receive centre link benefit and not eligible for public housing

Question 3

What are the issues for refugees with permanent visas?

Answer 3

• Settlement euphoria is common initially
• Distress at first health assessment needs to be monitored very closely
• PTSD, anxiety and depression are common
• Refugees are not high users of health service and monitoring chronic disease can be challenging
• Survivor guilt
• Need to be empathetic during childbirth for mothers to prevent PTSD
• Post partum depression is common
• Culturally appropriate behaviours might be exhibited

Question 4

What are the protective factors for refugees?

Answer 4

• Strong sense of community
• Forward looking narrative or survival
• Religious or spiritual focus

Question 5

What are the risk factors for refugee mental health issues?

Answer 5

• Witnessed loss of family members
• Suffered torture
• Spent prolonged periods in detention