GALWAY SURVEY SHOWS INCREASED STRESS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS

Date Published: 31-Jul-2007

Asylum seekers are five times more likely to be diagnosed with a psychiatric illness than Irish patients, according to a survey carried out by researchers at NUIGalway

The study also found the average number of visits asylum seekers pay to a GP is twice that of patients from here.

Doctors examined the patterns among patients attending two GP practices in Galway over a year.

They collected data on 171 asylum seekers and 342 Irish citizens

The study reveals that despite the higher prevalence of psychological distress among asylum seekers, Irish GPs cannot refer directly to public psychological services.