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Sociodemographic profile and mental health needs of referrals to an Irish psychiatric service: a transcultural perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Mohamed Ahmed ,
Brendan Dineen ,
Sinead O'Brien  and
Philip A Carney
Mohamed Ahmed*
Affiliation:
Brothers of Charity Services, Galway &, Dept of Psychiatry, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
Brendan Dineen
Affiliation:
Health Research Board & Department of General Practice, National University of Ireland, Galway
Sinead O'Brien
Affiliation:
Mercy University Hospital, Cork
Philip A Carney
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
*
*Correspondence E-mail: mohamed.ahmed@nuigalway.ie
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Abstract

Objectives: This study describes the social, demographic and clinical characteristics of all the new referrals in a mental health catchment area. This study aims to compare Irish and non-Irish service users in terms of their mental health needs and service utilization.

Method: Case notes were reviewed retrospectively to investigate demographic, clinical and service utilization parameters among new referrals to the psychiatric services in Galway, Ireland over a six-month period.

Results: One hundred and fifty-four new referrals, of whom 41 were non-Irish, presented over a six-month period. Results showed no difference between Irish and non-Irish service users in terms of socio-demographic variables. Alcohol problems and subsequent need for detoxification and counselling were significantly higher among service users from the new EU accession states with a significant impact on the duration of their hospital stay and the need for intensive psychiatric care.

Conclusions: There is an urgent need for enhanced resources for the delivery of mental healthcare to immigrants. Service utilisation and mental health needs are not explained merely by illness-related aspects in immigrant service users. Social and cultural factors have to be recognised in order to prevent disadvantages in psychiatric care.

Keywords

Transcultural psychiatryMental health needsService utilizationImmigrants
Type
Brief Reports
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 28 , Issue 3 , September 2011 , pp. 141 - 144
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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