Traumatised Refugees and Daily Functioning Tapio Halla, Psychiatrist Tampere City Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Psychiatric Clinic for Immigrants

Psychiatric Clinic for Immigrants Tampere City Mental Health And Substance Abuse Services Sarvis Psyhiatry (Depression, Bipolar,Anxiety, Trauma, Eating Disorders etc Psychiatric Clinic for Immigrants

Psychiatric Clinic for Immigrants in Tampere established 1996 outpatient clinic psychiatric examination and care for adult traumatized refugees in Tampere (residence permit) consultations and education concerning cultural psychiatry

Psychiatric Clinic for Immigrants psychiatrist physiotherapist psychologist (from 4/2015) psychiatric nurse (from 9/2016) social worker (1/4 time therapy work)

Psychiatric Clinic for Immigrants in Tampere about 200 patients/year about 2500 visits/year patients from over 20 different countries, mainly from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Somalia interpreters present in almost all visits referral from primary care doctor needed

Patients in clinic all are severely traumatized: torture, rapes, violation, war experiences, family members killed and missing quota refugees, patients who have been asylum seekers and got residence permit, residence permit through family reunification young adults, middle aged people with many children

Patients in clinic patients don’t have much knowledge about psychiatry or psychiatric care often somatic symptoms, pain, headache, sleeplessness, irritation, learning and memory problems, weakness, nightmares, diagnoses: PTSD, depression, psychosomatic disorders, dissociation, psychoses small amount of alcohol or drug problems

Refugees who have PTSD often have problems with memory and concentration problems in human relations: easily irritated, misundertandings.. tiredness, sleeping problems flashbacks hyperarousal many challenges in new culture problems in learning new language

The vicious circle of immigrant Memory and learnig difficulties, new language Isolation, social withdrawal Psychiatric disorder

The Circle of Recovery Experienced capacities, pride Agency, social connections The improvement of mental health Sleeping well, memory and the capacity to learn Serene-toiminta 2017

Meeting a refugee patient information about Finnish practices and habits information about psychiatry language problems a great barrier, patients need help in everyday life building confidential relationship takes time

Other factors language learning work/unemployment other activities family situation social relationships, loneliness environment, racism

Thank you!