Training psychiatrists to meet the mental health needs of refugees and asylum seekers
The UEMS Section of Psychiatry made an important contribution to meeting the mental health needs of refugees and asylum seekers at its October meeting in Vienna.
The Section has identified the competencies that psychiatrists must have to enable them to give compassionate, high quality and effective care to people who are caught up in the refugee crisis that affects many parts of Europe.
The Section’s Vice President for Training, Dr Andrew Brittlebank from the UK said,
We know that people who are caught up in the refugee crisis are often fleeing from dreadful conditions and have been exposed to extreme trauma. It is vital that psychiatric doctors who give front-line care to these people have the proper knowledge, skills and professionalism to enable them to do this.
Dr Marc Hermans from Belgium, President of the Section said,
As the body that gives advice on standards for Psychiatry training in Europe, it is right that we address this important question for the sake of our patients. I commend these competencies to European Psychiatry Associations and I hope they will quickly adopt them.
Details of the knowledge, skills and professionalism required for the care of refugees and asylum seekers can be found on the Section’s website:
UEMS Psychiatry Section PRESS STATEMENT