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This page is an AI-assisted Turkish summary of the study presented at the 26th World Congress of Psychiatry. The study belongs to the presenting authors; please refer to the original source when citing it.

Improving migrants’ access to mental health services

Improving migrant access to mental health care

Although mental disorders are more prevalent among migrants and refugees than among native-born populations, their use of services is lower; achieving equity in care requires improving the accessibility and cultural responsiveness of services.

The talk takes as its starting point the finding that mental disorders are more prevalent among refugees and other migrant groups than among native-born populations, yet these groups make less use of mental health services. It argues that, to achieve equity in care, mental health services need to close the gap between need and access, improve accessibility, and adapt systems, services, and interventions. The presentation discusses evidence on differences in needs and service use, along with strategies and methods for addressing these disparities. At the local level, culturally and linguistically adapted community-based outreach programs may reduce barriers to accessing care and reduce stigma. It also notes that services can reduce barriers by providing adequate resources and skills training for mental health professionals. It emphasizes that professionals need training and support to work with cultural diversity and structural competence, understand and treat migrant and refugee patients, and respond to racial discrimination. Ultimately, culturally adapted assessment and treatment methods need to be implemented and evaluated.

All WCP 2026 summaries